This study compared the efficacy of two low-cost interventions for physical activity adoption. Sedentary (N = 194) adults recruited through newspaper advertisements were randomized to receive either a motivationally-matched, individually-tailored intervention (IT) or a standard self-help intervention (ST). Assessments and interventions were delivered by repeated mailings at baseline, one, three, and six months. Participants were assessed regarding current physical activity behavior, motivational readiness to adopt regular physical activity, and psychological constructs associated with physical activity participation (e.g. self-efficacy, decisional balance). Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed significant increases in physical activity participation between baseline and six months for both groups with a significantly greater increase among IT participants. The IT group outperformed the ST group on all primary outcome measures: (a) minutes of physical activity per week, (b) reaching Centers for Disease Control and American College of Sports Medicine (CDC/ACSM) recommended minimum physical activity criteria, and (c) achieving the Action stage of motivational readiness for physical activity adoption. Both groups showed significant improvement between baseline and six months on the psychological constructs associated with physical activity adoption (e.g. self-efficacy), with no significant differences observed between the treatment groups. Utilizing computer expert systems and self-help manuals to provide individually-tailored, motivationally-matched interventions appears to be an effective, low-cost approach for enhancing physical activity participation in the community.

Behavioral science theories have been used to develop physical activity interventions; however, little is known as to whether these interventions are effective due to changes in constructs related to these theories. Specifically, if the intervention is successful, does it work for the reasons hypothesized by the theory underlying it? The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of particular theoretical constructs among participants (n = 150) who had been randomly assigned to a physical activity intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model and Social Cognitive Theory (i.e., tailored group) or to a standard care group. Participants in the tailored group reported greater increases in behavioral processes and self-efficacy from baseline to 3 months than participants in the standard-care group. No between-group differences were found for cognitive processes and decisional balance. This study demonstrates that theory-based physical activity interventions may be effective through changes in particular theoretical constructs.

Background/aims This randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluated the recruitment, engagement and effect of the Graded Repetitive Arm Strengthening Programme in a community rehabilitation setting in London, UK. Methods A parallel design was used to ascertain the effect of the Graded Repetitive Arm Strengthening Programme plus standard care compared to standard care only over four weeks. Eleven participants were randomised using permuted blocks randomisation following discharge, with six participants allocated to the Graded Repetitive Arm Strengthening Programme (study) group and five to the standard care (control) group. The primary outcome was the Wolf Motor Function Test. Secondary outcomes were the Motor Activity Log and grip strength. Results A total of five participants in each group were analysed as one person withdrew from the study group. Participants in the study group gave more time to supplementing their exercise time independently (160% more vs 42% more). Most Wolf Motor Function Test tasks' time and function data showed a small difference in favour of the Graded Repetitive Arm Strengthening Programme. Results were re-examined using a Bayesian structural equation model to quantify changes in the underlying impairment. This showed significant differences: 40% faster task completion (P<0.001, 95% confidence level [CI] 30–49%), mean improvement of 0.54 on the five-point functional ability score (P<0.001, 95% CI 0.39–0.68), odds ratio of 0.05 for non-completion of task (P<0.001, 95% CI 0.02–0.14). Conclusions This study has shown that implementing the Graded Repetitive Arm Strengthening Programme is feasible and may have a greater effect on outcomes when delivered as part of care in a community rehabilitation setting. The analysis of the Wolf Motor Function Test was also critiqued.