A pilot project called UcanACT which aimed to engage adults and senior citizens in physical activity through open-air exercise in urban green spaces to prevent cancer has shown positive results. Funded by the European Commission, the project involved physiotherapists, local authorities, and research institutions from Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Ireland.
In Kilkenny,the UcanACT project collaborated with physiotherapists from the HSE and private practice, Kilkenny County Council, and local non-profit organizations. The project led by Janette Boran, aimed to increase awareness of health outcomes and provide physical activity sessions supported by physiotherapists.
Sinead Gavin, Physiotherapy Manager with the HSE in Kilkenny, reported on the project’s first pilot, which showed positive results, with improvements in outcome measures for participants aged over 50 years. The project aims to collect and evaluate data to present to stakeholders and support future collaborative community-based initiatives for cancer prevention.
