Effects of activity strategy training on pain and physical activity in older adults with knee or hip osteoarthritis: A pilot study

Abstract As the U.S. population ages, communities must adapt to help older adults thrive. Built environment features, like safe sidewalks and crosswalks, provide the foundation for age- and physical activity-friendly communities. Controlled studies are needed to evaluate advocacy training programs that instruct and support seniors to advocate for more walkable neighborhoods. The Senior Change Makers Pilot Study evaluated an advocacy program that taught seniors to evaluate pedestrian environments using the validated MAPS-Mini audit tool, identify barriers, and advocate for improvements. Participants (n = 50) were recruited from four low-income senior housing sites in San Diego, CA, which were randomly assigned to an 8-week advocacy program or physical activity (PA) comparison intervention. Evaluation included surveys, accelerometers to assess PA, and direct observation. Primary outcomes were seniors’ advocacy confidence and skills. Main analyses used repeated measures ANOVAs. Seniors in the advocacy condition (n = 17) increased their advocacy outcome efficacy (p = .03) and knowledge of resources (p = .04) more than seniors in the PA condition (n = 33). Most seniors in the advocacy condition completed a street audit (84%), submitted an advocacy request (79%), or made an advocacy presentation to city staff (58%). Environmental changes included repairs to sidewalks and crosswalks. City staff approved requests for lighting, curb cuts, and crosswalk markings. Seniors’ accelerometer-measured PA did not significantly increase, but self-reported transportation activity increased in the PA condition (p = .04). This study showed the potential of advocacy training to empower seniors to make communities more age- and activity-friendly.

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Using phone-based activity monitors to promote physical activity in older adults: A pilot study

2014 IEEE Healthcare Innovation Conference (HIC) ◽

10.1109/hic.2014.7038870 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Harshvardhan Vathsangam ◽

Gaurav S. Sukhatme

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Activity Monitors

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Efficacy of Using Physical Activity Mentors to Increase the Daily Steps of Older Adults in the Primary Care Setting: A Pilot Study

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2012-0120 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 16-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Karen A. Croteau ◽

Vijiayurani Suresh ◽

Elanna Farnham

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Primary Care ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Care Setting ◽

Primary Care Setting ◽

Chronic Illnesses ◽

Main Effects

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if using physical activity (PA) mentors has any additional impact on daily steps of older adults participating in the Maine in Motion (MIM) program in the primary care setting. Participants were randomly assigned to a MIM-only group (n= 14) or a MIM+ mentor group (n= 14). The MIM intervention lasted 6 months with follow-up at 12 months. Average age of participants was 64 ± 8.8 years and most participants had multiple chronic illnesses. At baseline, mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.2 ± 5.1 and average daily steps were 4,236 ± 2,266. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects for steps,F(2.324, 59.104) = 4.168,p= .015, but no main effects for group,F(1, 25) = 2.988,p= .096, or time-by-group interaction,F(2.324, 59.104) = 0.905,p= .151. All participants significantly increased daily steps over the course of the intervention, with MIM+ participants maintaining increases at follow-up. No significant findings were found for BMI.

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The relationship between the built environment and habitual levels of physical activity in South African older adults: a pilot study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-015-1853-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Tracy L. Kolbe-Alexander ◽

Kyla Pacheco ◽

Simone A. Tomaz ◽

David Karpul ◽

Estelle V. Lambert

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Built Environment ◽

South African ◽

The Relationship

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Effectiveness of an individually tailored home-based exercise rogramme for pre-frail older adults, driven by a tablet application and mobility monitoring: a pilot study

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s11556-021-00264-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hilde A. E. Geraedts ◽

Hidde Dijkstra ◽

Wei Zhang ◽

Francisco Ibarra ◽

Iman Khaghani Far ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Functional Performance ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Exercise Programme ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Frail Older Adults ◽

Home Based ◽

Positive Results

Abstract Objectives To gain first insight into the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme for pre-frail older adults with independent use of novel ICT technology. Methods A pilot study. Forty pre-frail older adults joined a six-month home-based exercise programme using a tablet PC for exercise administration and feedback, and a necklace-worn motion sensor for daily physical activity registration. Participants received weekly telephone supervision during the first 3 months and exercised independently without supervision from a coach during the last 3 months. Functional performance and daily physical activity were assessed at baseline, after three and 6 months. Results Twenty-one participants completed the programme. Overall, functional performance showed positive results varying from (very) small to large effects (Cohen’s d 0.04–0.81), mainly during the supervised part of the intervention. Regarding daily physical activity, a slight improvement with (very) small effects (Cohen’s d 0.07–0.38), was observed for both self-reported and objectively measured physical activity during the supervised period. However, during the unsupervised period this pattern only continued for self-reported physical activity. Conclusion This pilot study showed positive results varying from (very) small to large effects in levels and maintenance of functional performance and daily physical activity, especially during the supervised first 3 months. Remote supervision seems to importantly affect effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme. Effectiveness of the programme and the exact contribution of its components should be further quantified in a randomized controlled trial. Practice implications Home-based exercising using novel technology may be promising for functional performance and physical activity improvement in (pre-frail) older adults. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register (NTR); trial number NL4049. The study was prospectively registered (registration date 14/11/2013).

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Increased Physical Activity and Fitness above the 50th Percentile Avoid the Threat of Older Adults Becoming Institutionalized: A Cross-sectional Pilot Study

Rejuvenation Research ◽

10.1089/rej.2015.1669 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 13-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Catarina Pereira ◽

Jorge Fernandes ◽

Armando Raimundo ◽

Clarissa Biehl-Printes ◽

José Marmeleira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Exposure to “Exergames” Increases Older Adults’ Perception of the Usefulness of Technology for Improving Health and Physical Activity: A Pilot Study

JMIR Serious Games ◽

10.2196/games.4275 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. e8 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Marie-Louise Bird ◽

Brodie Clark ◽

Johanna Millar ◽

Sue Whetton ◽

Stuart Smith

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study

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Increasing physical activity in older adults using STARFISH, an interactive smartphone application (app); a pilot study

Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering ◽

10.1177/2055668317696236 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 205566831769623 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lorna Paul ◽

Stephen Brewster ◽

Sally Wyke ◽

Angus K McFadyen ◽

Naveed Sattar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Objective Measure ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Randomised Controlled

Background Increasing physical activity in older adults has preventative and therapeutic health benefits. We have developed STARFISH, a smartphone application, to increase physical activity. This paper describes the features of STARFISH, presents the views of older users on the acceptability and usability of the app and reports the results of a six week pilot study of the STARFISH app in older adults. Methods The operationalisation of the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) within the STARFISH app was mapped against the BCT Taxonomy of Michie et al. Sixteen healthy older adults (eight women and eight men; age 71.1 ± 5.2 years) used the app, in groups of four, for six weeks. Focus groups explored the user experience and objective measure of steps per day recorded. Results Participants were very positive about using the STARFISH app, in particular the embedded BCTs of self-monitoring, feedback and social support (in the form of group rewards). Objective step data, available for eight participants, showed that step counts increased by an average of 14% ( p = 0.077, d = 0.56). Conclusion The STARFISH app was acceptable and straightforward to use for older adults. STARFISH has potential to increase physical activity in older adults; however, a fully powered randomised controlled trial is required.

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The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Geriatrics ◽

10.3390/geriatrics6030068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 68

Author(s):

Nathaniel Johnson ◽

Adam Bradley ◽

Lukus Klawitter ◽

Jane Johnson ◽

Lance Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Computer Time ◽

Health Concern ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Telehealth Intervention ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

Background: Physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health concern for older adults. Telehealth presents a safe platform for conducting health-related interventions that may have additional benefits such as widespread reach. Our pilot study sought to examine how a telehealth intervention changed activity profiles in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: There were n = 13 adults aged 70.6 ± 4.5 years that participated in a 6 week telehealth intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The didactic intervention contents were shared online, and participants worked with trained interviewers over the telephone to discuss physical activity. At baseline and post-intervention, the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults examined activity profiles, while accelerometry estimated time spent sedentary and in physical activity. Results: Relative to the baseline measures, there was an 88 min/day (95% confidence interval (CI): 39, 137) increase in computer time and 36 min/day (CI: 10, 62) reduction in time spent in active transport at post-intervention. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity participation also increased by an estimated 2 min/day (CI: −21, 26) and 12 min/week (CI: −154, 180), but this trend was not statistically significant. Conclusion: We recommend that support be provided to older adults transitioning to telehealth, especially as migration to telehealth progresses.

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Building on Lessons Learned in a Mobile Intervention to Reduce Pain and Improve Health (MORPH): Protocol for the MORPH-II Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.29013 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jason Fanning ◽

Amber K Brooks ◽

Katherine L Hsieh ◽

Kyle Kershner ◽

Joy Furlipa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Cognitive Theory ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Control Group ◽

Intervention Package ◽

Improve Health

BACKGROUND Engaging in sufficient levels of physical activity, guarding against sustained sitting, and maintaining a healthy body weight represent important lifestyle strategies for managing older adults’ chronic pain. Our first Mobile Health Intervention to Reduce Pain and Improve Health (MORPH) randomized pilot study demonstrated that a partially remote group-mediated diet and daylong activity intervention (ie, a focus on moving often throughout the day) can lead to improved physical function, weight loss, less pain intensity, and fewer minutes of sedentary time. We also identified unique delivery challenges that limited the program’s scalability and potential efficacy. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the MORPH-II randomized pilot study is to refine the MORPH intervention package based on feedback from MORPH and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of this revised package prior to conducting a larger clinical trial. METHODS The MORPH-II study is an iteration on MORPH designed to pilot a refined framework, enhance scalability through fully remote delivery, and increase uptake of the daylong movement protocol through revised education content and additional personalized remote coaching. Older, obese, and low-active adults with chronic multisite pain (n=30) will be randomly assigned to receive a 12-week remote group-mediated physical activity and dietary weight loss intervention followed by a 12-week maintenance period or a control condition. Those in the intervention condition will partake in weekly social cognitive theory–based group meetings via teleconference software plus one-on-one support calls on a tapered schedule. They will also engage with a tablet application paired with a wearable activity monitor and smart scale designed to provide ongoing social and behavioral support throughout the week. Those in the control group will receive only the self-monitoring tools. RESULTS Recruitment is ongoing as of January 2021. CONCLUSIONS Findings from MORPH-II will help guide other researchers working to intervene on sedentary behavior through frequent movement in older adults with chronic pain. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04655001; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04655001 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/29013

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