Laboratorios Viñas sponsors the first Course on Pharmaceutical Care in Physical Activity and Sports
Over half of all Spaniards over age 15 played sports in 2015. That is the conclusion of the "Sports Habits Survey 2015" by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, which shows that 53.3% of the population was involved in some type of sports activity, whether on a regular or exceptional basis. 46.2% said they play sports once a week, while 51% work up a sweat at least once a month. A very similar percentage (52.3%) of the least active respondents said they play sports once every three months.
In the light of these figures, it can be concluded that there is a very broad swathe of the population with highly specific demands. In other words, nowadays pharmacists have a unique opportunity to meet an unprecedented social demand. Society's growing concern about health, and the progressive increase in the number of people who play sports, makes pharmacists potential pillars of support for these new athletes who are taking their first steps into a healthy lifestyle. This way, rather than being just another option, pharmacies become the first resort for professional advice in nutrition or non-professional sports performance.
A demand waiting to be met
As pointed out by the "Sports Habits Survey 2015", a large percentage of the Spanish population need to be assisted by a health professional capable of providing advice independently of the type of sports activity involved - whether bicycling, running, trail or triathlon. In order to successfully meet this demand, however, it is essential for pharmacists to receive special, comprehensive professional training, adapted to the needs of this type of consumer.
To make this possibility a reality, on 22 February Laboratorios Viñas signed an agreement with the High Performance Centre (Centro de Alto Rendimiento, CAR) of Sant Cugat del Vallés (Barcelona) to sponsor the first Course on Pharmaceutical Assistance in Physical Activity and Sports for pharmacists, which will be held in the facilities of the CAR during two full weekends this coming May.
The ceremony was attended by Ms. Gemma Buxadé, member of the Managing Board of Laboratorios Viñas, and Mr. Carles Combarros, until now the Director of the CAR of Sant Cugat. They signed the agreement whereby both parties will be putting on these events in the CAR facilities.
This Course on Pharmaceutical Care in Physical Activity and Sports reflects the current importance of physical activity as a health-promoting factor. As a result of the large proportion of the population doing routine physical exercise, there has been a rise in injuries and consultations. Pharmacists, as health professionals, play an important role in this context. Consequently, Laboratorios Viñas is offering these two courses so that you can complete a training programme conceived by and for athletes.
The course, coordinated by Xavier Gasol (University of Barcelona, School of Sports Medicine), explores subjects selected "ad hoc" by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, physical trainers and Olympic athletes from both the School of Sports Medicine of the University of Barcelona and the High Performance Centre of Sant Cugat. This course will be taught in person at the CAR's exceptional facilities, which the pharmacists will share with our country's elite athletes.
After completing the course, participants will be qualified to advise and inform any citizen, regardless of the type of sports they play.
Source: http://www.mecd.gob.es/servicios-al-ciudadano-mecd/dms/mecd/servicios-al-ciudadano-mecd/estadisticas/deporte/ehd/ Encuesta_de_Habitos_Deportivos_2015_Sintesis_de_Resultados.pdf - Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.