scholarly journals Dynamic Target Setting increases workplace physical activity: evidence from a randomised trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susannah Hume ◽  
Pieter Cornel ◽  
Michael Sanders ◽  
Karen Tindall ◽  
Paul Vilanti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Target Setting ◽  
High Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Dynamic Target

We conduct a field experiment in a large workplace, testing two forms of target to increase physical activity - standard targets (10,000 steps per day) or dynamic targets (10% more than last week). We find that effects overall are modest, but that dynamic targets are more impactful for people with high physical activity levels.

scholarly journals The association between psychological characteristics and physical activity levels in people with knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Uritani ◽  
Jessica Kasza ◽  
Penny K. Campbell ◽  
Ben Metcalf ◽  
Thorlene Egerton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Psychological Characteristics ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fear Of Movement ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background:The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological characteristics and physical activity levels, measured as the average number of steps per day, in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Methods: This study analysed baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry reference: ACTRN12612000308897). A total of 167 adults aged over 50 years, with knee pain rated as four or more on an 11-point numeric rating scale, and knee OA diagnosed using American College of Rheumatology clinical criteria, were recruited from the community (62 men and 105 women; mean age, 62.2 ± 7.5 years). The average number of steps per day over seven consecutive days was measured using an accelerometer-based device. Psychological characteristics evaluated were: depressive symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), self-efficacy (Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale for pain and other symptoms), fear of movement (Brief Fear of Movement Scale for Osteoarthritis), and pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale). The association between the average number of steps per day and psychological characteristics was analyzed using a multiple linear regression analysis, with the average number of steps per day as the dependent variable, adjusting for each psychological characteristic separately, and age, sex, body mass index, and pain entered as covariates.Results: There was evidence that the amount of physical activity was associated with fear of movement (coefficient [B]: -117, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: -227 to -8) and with pain catastrophizing (B: -44, 95%CI: -86 to -1). The association with self-efficacy was similar (B:117, 95%CI: -12 to 246). However, the direction of the association with depressive symptoms was less clear (B: -59, 95%CI: -138 to 19).Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that the relationship was such that lower fear of movement and lower pain catastrophizing may be associated with more steps per day. It may be hypothesized that fear of moving and pain catastrophizing lead to activity avoidance and that strategies to improve these disease-related psychological aspects may be useful in enhancing physical activity participation, although this hypothesis is highly speculative and needs further testing given the cross-sectional design of this study.

scholarly journals A Move-A-Thon Event: A Workplace Demonstration of a Proposed Alternative Strategy to Incentivize Workers to Engage in Physical Activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-158
Author(s):  
Susan Reutman ◽  
Renee Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Small Group ◽  
Worksite Health Promotion ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Charitable Donation ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Worksite Health ◽  
Incentive Strategy

Motivating employees to increase their physical activity is a health promotion challenge. A Move-A-Thon (MAT) event approach was implemented as an alternative incentive to help workers to optimize their physical activity levels. We implemented a demonstration project in which workers were incentivized for their participation through monetized donations to charity. Their steps were monitored over the 2-week demonstration period. The MAT goal was for participants to achieve a minimum of 3,000 daily steps for 2 weeks, for which they could earn a total donation of up to US$20. Participants walking at least once with up to five different “exercise buddies” could earn up to US$2 more per buddy for donation. Of 10 workers invited, nine enrolled and eight completed participation by logging their monitored steps across an average of 13.75 full MAT participation days. Participants averaged 9,330.8 steps per day—more than triple the lower threshold required for a maximum US$20 charitable donation. The eight participants walked with a total of 21 “exercise buddies.” They were receptive to future MAT events of longer duration. In total, the monetized donation to charity made by those eight participants was US$202. The MAT event participants were successful at promoting physical activity among a small group of workers for 2 weeks. Future worksite health promotion projects with this type of incentive strategy are indicated.

scholarly journals Risk Factors for Physical Inactivity Among Children With and Without Asthma Living in Peri-Urban Communities of Lima, Peru

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 816-822
Author(s):  
Sathvik Namburar ◽  
William Checkley ◽  
Oscar Flores-Flores ◽  
Karina M. Romero ◽  
Katherine Tomaino Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Demographic Risk

Background: The authors sought to examine physical activity patterns among children with and without asthma in 2 peri-urban communities in Lima, Peru, to identify socioeconomic and demographic risk factors for physical inactivity and examine the relationship between asthma and physical activity. Methods: The authors measured mean steps per day in 114 children (49 with asthma and 65 without) using pedometers worn over a 1-week period. They also used the 3-day physical activity recall to determine the most common activities carried out by children. Results: The authors found that 84.2% of the children did not meet the daily international physical activity recommendations. Girls took significantly fewer mean steps per day as compared with boys (2258 fewer steps, 95% confidence interval, 1042–3474), but no other factors, including asthma status, showed significant differences in the mean daily steps. Mean daily steps were positively associated with higher socioeconomic status among girls, and current asthma had a larger inverse effect on daily steps in boys when compared with girls. Conclusion: Physical activity levels were below recommended guidelines in all children. There is a need for policy and neighborhood-level interventions to address low physical activity levels among Peruvian youth. Special focus should be given to increasing the physical activity levels in girls.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior at the End of the Human Lifespan

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 899-905
Author(s):  
Adrián Hernández-Vicente ◽  
Alejandro Santos-Lozano ◽  
Carmen Mayolas-Pi ◽  
Gabriel Rodríguez-Romo ◽  
Helios Pareja-Galeano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Time Distribution ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Human Lifespan ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Sedentary Breaks ◽  
Objectively Measured

To objectively assess physical activity levels and sedentary behavior in a cohort of Spanish centenarians and their nonagenarian peers. Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns were objectively measured by an ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer in centenarians (n = 18; 83% women; 100.8 ± 0.8 [100–103] years) and nonagenarians (n = 11; 91% women; 93.3 ± 2.5 [90–98] years). Centenarians showed less counts per minute (17.6 ± 7.1 vs. 46.1 ± 23.7, p = .003, d = 1.851) and steps per day (455 ± 237 vs. 1,249 ± 776, p = .007, d = 1.587) than nonagenarians. The daily number of sedentary breaks was also lower in the former (5.0 ± 1.5 vs. 6.7 ± 2.0, p = .019, d = 0.971). When observing time distribution, the most active day period in both groups was the morning, with a peak between 10:00 and 11:59. This data suggest that the decline in physical activity levels continues to worsen until the end of the human lifespan.

scholarly journals Environmental and Motivational Determinants of Physical Activity among Canadian Inuit in the Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (13) ◽  
pp. 2437
Author(s):  
Victor O. Akande ◽  
Robert A.C. Ruiter ◽  
Stef P.J. Kremers
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Environmental Correlates ◽  
Motivational Regulation ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day

Background: Canadian Inuit have transited from a physically active hunter-gatherer subsistence lifestyle into sedentary ways of life. The purpose of the current study was to measure physical activity levels among Nunavut Inuit adults, and explore the socio-cognitive and environmental factors influencing the number of steps taken per day. Method: Inuit and non-Inuit adults (N = 272) in Nunavut participated in a seven-day pedometer study during summer and winter seasons. Participants were asked to complete the Neighbourhood Environmental Walkability Scale (NEWS) and Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). Data analyses included descriptive statistics, hierarchical linear regression, and tests of mediation effects. Results: Participants had limited to low activity at a rate of 5027 ± 1799 and 4186 ± 1446 steps per day, during summer and winter, respectively. There were no seasonal and age effects on the number of steps. Gender effects and community differences were observed. Perceived infrastructure and safety as well as land use mix diversity were found to be positive environmental correlates of steps taken, which were partially mediated by identified motivational regulation. Conclusion: Physical activity levels among Nunavut adults are generally low, but can be promoted by improving the external physical environment and internal motivational regulation.

scholarly journals Predictors of physical activity for weekdays and weekends among adolescent – a cross-sectional study in Sarawak, Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50
Author(s):  
WHYE LIAN CHEAH ◽  
HELMY HAZMI ◽  
CHING THON CHANG
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
The Mean

Background: This study aimed to describe the patterns of physical activities both at weekends and on weekdays and to identify their associated factors. Material/Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among secondary school students aged 13-15 years old in Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and to measure perceived barriers, self-efficacies and social influences. Anthropometric measurements were taken and used to determine BMI-for-age, while pedometers were used to assess the physical activity levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: A total of 474 students from six secondary schools participated. About 16% of the respondents were overweight and obese, majority of them males. The mean BMI was 21.21 ±12.93, higher among males. The mean steps per day were 6251.37±3085.31, with weekends recorded a higher number of steps. The number of steps among males was higher than among females. On weekdays, self-motivation scores significantly predicted the participants’ number of steps/physical activity rate (b = 521.43, 95% CI -72.78 to 1050.19). At weekends, lack of interest and knowledge scores (b = -427.82, 95% CI -837.72 to 17.92) and making choices scores (b = 737.41, 95% CI -197.94 to 1276.88) were significant to predict the number of steps/physical activity levels. Conclusions: These findings indicated the importance of investigating predictors of physical activity for weekdays and weekends. Thus, efforts should focus on how to motivate adolescents to be more physically active targeting the identified predictors for weekdays and week ends.

scholarly journals Association of Physical activity levels and BMI Among Doctor of Physical Therapy Students of a Private College from Karachi

2019 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 281-285
Author(s):  
Khalid Aziz ◽  
Ayesha Afridi ◽  
Abida Arif ◽  
Ghousia Shahid ◽  
Muhammad Faisal Fahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Physical Activity Level ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
High Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

Objective: To evaluate the physical activity levels among DPT students of Bahria University College of Physical therapy (BUCPT) by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and to study the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Physical activity levels of DPT students of (BUCPT). Study design and Setting: This cross sectional study was conducted in BUCPT Bahria from March- April 2019 (1 month data collection). Methodology: Written consent form was obtained from each participant before taking part into study. Individual with cardio-respiratory diseases and fractures in last 12 months or any limb disability were excluded from the study. The study tool was IPAQ. Results:A total of 125 students were enrolled in this study. There were 121 (96.8%) female and 4 (3.2%) male observed. Mean age of students were 19.89±1.14 (18-22) years. In low physical activity level, 2 (28.6%) students were underweight, 8 (17.0%) were normal BMI, 3 (9.7%) were overweight and 6 (15.0%) were obese. In moderate physical activity level, 3 (42.9%) underweight, 22 (46.8%) normal, 19 (61.3%) overweight and 19 (47.5%) fall in obese criteria. High physical activity levels were found to be 2 (28.6%) in underweight group, 17 (36.2%) in normal group, 9 (29.0%) in overweight and 15 (37.5%) were obese. Conclusion: BUCPT students were moderately physically active and minority of them were low physically active and majority of them were lying the category of normal BMI. There was statistically insignificant relationship found between BMI and physical activities levels. Some students were obese and still have high physical activity level while some are normal in BMI and having low physical activity level

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