The agreement, now in its second consecutive year, allows for the detection and prevention of potential health issues, as well as the improvement of athletic performance through individualized tests and specific ergogenic aid planning. The initiative targets high-performance athletes (DAR) and recognized indigenous high-level athletes (DAAN) by the regional government, who can access these check-ups annually and free of charge. Vithas, with hospitals in the Canary Islands including Hospital Universitario Vithas Las Palmas and Hospital Vithas Tenerife, is responsible for conducting the tests through its Sports Medicine Unit.
The Vice-Minister of Physical Activity and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Sabroso, recalled that the classifications of high-performance athlete and indigenous high-level athlete, created in 2024, facilitate access to support services. "This is one of the most beautiful programs we have and one that is yielding the best results," stated Sabroso, highlighting the executive's trust in Vithas for offering "the most exhaustive and complete test currently available in the Canary Islands."
The vice-minister emphasized the work of Dr. Paloma Suárez and her team, as well as the unit's technical resources. He noted that athletes can choose between treadmill, bicycle, or rowing machine for stress tests, depending on their sport's characteristics. "We will undoubtedly continue working together because the results have been magnificent," he concluded.
For his part, the general manager of Vithas Canarias, David García, highlighted the hospital group's participation in ExpoDeca 2026, which "reinforces our commitment to promoting health in general and in sports." Vithas is presenting the services of its Sports Medicine Unit at the fair and conducting check-ups for high-performance and indigenous high-level athletes. García also stressed the importance of the educational activities within their Aula Salud program, particularly those related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), to move towards cardioprotected sports facilities.
Vithas's medical check-ups include a complete clinical history, body composition analysis, and tests to detect potential cardiological conditions, such as basal electrocardiogram, stress test with gas analyzer, calorimetry, and lactate test. This specialized medical-sports evaluation, unique in the Canary Islands and considered a national benchmark, helps assess athletes' health status, identify pathologies, and gather information to adapt training programs.
For high-performance and indigenous high-level athletes, the check-up also includes personalized ergogenic aid planning, featuring nutritional guidelines and supplements tailored to each athlete. This plan considers medical test results, sport modality, and competition calendar to guide the athlete through different season phases and help them achieve optimal performance.
Vithas's participation in ExpoDeca 2026 also includes workshops from its free Vithas Aula Salud program. Hospital Universitario Vithas Las Palmas has conducted CPR workshops led by nurses Rebeca Galán and Ana da Silva, attended by about thirty referees from the Canary Institute of Sports Arbitration (ICAD), to equip them with knowledge and tools for intervening in cardiorespiratory emergencies during sports events.
