A Preliminary Study on the Impact of a Pedometer-Based Intervention on Daily Steps

Abstract

Although preliminary, this study indicates that the minimal contact, self-managed, pedometer-based lifestyle intervention was effective in increasing the daily physical activity of participants. Given the combination of behavioral techniques used, a recommendation for future studies would be to examine the impact of individual behavioral techniques on daily physical activity.

The effects of a lifestyle physical activity counseling program with feedback of a pedometer during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD: A pilot study

“…In two studies, healthy adults significantly increase their daily steps from 8565 at baseline to 10,538 (+23%) after an 8-week pedometer-based lifestyle physical activity intervention [25], and from 4753 at baseline to 7949 (+67%) after an 8-week pedometer-based physical activity program [24]. The relative increases in number of steps/day in our study were more pronounced.…”

“…Pedometers offer new perspectives in changing physical activity behavior because patients can monitor themselves and can set concrete goals for increasing physical activity. Up to now, several studies have shown that pedometers are successful in increasing physical activity in healthy adults [24,25] and in various patient groups [26][27][28][29][30]. Schönhofer et al [31] demonstrated that pedometers are feasible to assess the level of physical activity in patients with COPD.…”

A Review of eHealth Interventions for Physical Activity and Dietary Behavior Change

“…16,17,19,26 One study delivered the intervention program using a CD-ROM 18 and another used a computer automated telephone system to engage participants in counseling for physical activity. 25 Three studies used pedometers as a tool for monitoring walking activity.…”

Research Letter

“…Previous studies in which pedometer use had a positive impact on physical activity were 8-to 9-week trials. [2][3][4] It is encour-aging to see positive results in a 6-month trial of pedometer usage. Unfortunately, neither the control group nor the pedometer group lost weight during the course of the study.…”

“…Pedometers have been used to measure physical activity levels and investigated as a means of increasing physical activity. Studies have found that pedometer use increased average daily steps taken by employees over an 8-week period 2,3 and increased short walking trips by family medicine patients over a 9-week period. 4 We performed a pilot study to examine whether pedometer use would lead to sustained (6-month) increases in physical activity in patients seeking usual care in a family medicine setting.…”