Using phone-based activity monitors to promote physical activity in older adults: 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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Analyzing Free-Living Physical Activity of Older Adults in Different Environments Using Body-Worn Activity Monitors

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.18.2.171 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 171-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

P. Margaret Grant ◽

Malcolm H. Granat ◽

Morag K. Thow ◽

William M. Maclaren

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Likelihood Estimation ◽

Day Hospital ◽

Free Living ◽

Activity Monitors ◽

The Third ◽

Patient Groups ◽

Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimation

This study measured objectively the postural physical activity of 4 groups of older adults (≥65 yr). The participants (N= 70) comprised 3 patient groups—2 from rehabilitation wards (cityn= 20, 81.8 ± 6.7 yr; ruraln= 10, 79.4 ± 4.7 yr) and the third from a city day hospital (n= 20, 74.7 ± 7.9 yr)—and a healthy group to provide context (n= 20, 73.7 ± 5.5 yr). The participants wore an activity monitor (activPAL) for a week. A restricted maximum-likelihood-estimation analysis of hourly upright time (standing and walking) revealed significant differences between day, hour, and location and the interaction between location and hour (p< .001). Differences in the manner in which groups accumulated upright and sedentary time (sitting and lying) were found, with the ward-based groups sedentary for prolonged periods and upright for short episodes. This information may be used by clinicians to design appropriate rehabilitation interventions and monitor patient progress.

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Physical activity monitors to enhance amount of physical activity in older adults – a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s11556-019-0213-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rasmus Tolstrup Larsen ◽

Jan Christensen ◽

Carsten Bogh Juhl ◽

Henning Boje Andersen ◽

Henning Langberg

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Activity Monitors ◽

Physical 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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The Analysis of Objectively Measured Weekly Physical Activity of Adolescent Boys

Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences ◽

10.33607/bjshs.v1i84.295 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (84) ◽

Author(s):

Edita Maciulevičienė ◽

Rita Sadzevičienė ◽

Rita Gruodytė

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Body Mass ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Activity Monitors ◽

The World ◽

Weekly Physical Activity ◽

Objectively Measured

Research background and hypothesis. The objective methods for measuring PA are used more and more widely in various research studies all over the world. To our best knowledge, this pilot study is the first attempt in Lithuania to objectively assess physical activity of adolescents with an ambition to develop a more accurate methodology in assessing physical activity. Research aim of this study was to analyze the objectively measured weekly physical activity results of adolescent boys.Research methods. The PA of schoolboys was measured using Tri-axis ActiTrainer Activity Monitors. Boys were asked to wear the monitors for the whole week. The level of the intensity of PA was determined by calculating energy consumption in METs. Based on the frequency of vigorous and moderate PA per week, the participants of this study were devided into PA groups. Research results. All of the schoolboys experienced LPA on each of the assessed days. MPA on each day was experienced by 59.6 % of the boys. No participants achieved VPA on a daily basis. The frequency of MPA and VPA experienced most often was 5–7 and 1–3 days per week, respectively. The total PA measured during the week was largely comprised by LPA, i. e. 79.8%; MPA and VPA were 18.8 and 1.4%, respectively.Discussion and conclusion. Boys who achieve VPA, have a greater total PA during the week than those boys who do not experience VPA. If boys achieve VPA on more than 2 days during the week, even if it is just for 10 min, there is a significant increase in the total amount of weekly PA as well as a decrease in their body mass index (BMI). Boys’ who do not experience MPA at least for 6 days/week, the total amount of weekly PA decreases.Keywords: PA frequency, PA intensity, PA volume.

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