Can older adults improve the identification of moderate intensity using walking cadence? Stride rate recommendations for moderate-intensity walking. Evaluation of inactive adults' ability to maintain a moderate-intensity walking pace. Patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation for lower limb orthopaedic conditions do much less physical activity than recommended in guidelines for healthy older adults: an observational study. Prevalence of Physical Activity in the United States: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2001 Stride rate and walking intensity in healthy older adults. Walking in Relation to Mortality in a Large Prospective Cohort of Older U.S. Adults. WalkMore: a randomized controlled trial of pedometer-based interventions differing on intensity messages Providing sedentary adults with choices for meeting their walking goals. Can lay-led walking programmes increase physical activity in middle aged adults? A randomised controlled trial A pilot walking program promotes moderate-intensity physical activity during pregnancy. Efficacy of an accelerometer-guided physical activity intervention in community-dwelling older women. Activity-monitor accuracy in measuring step number and cadence in community-dwelling older adults. Pilot study comparing physical and psychological responses in medical qigong and walking. Recommending Self-Paced Exercise among Overweight and Obese Adults: a Randomized Pilot Study Physical Activity and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study Pilot Study of a Faith-Based Physical Activity Program Among Sedentary Blacks Using step cadence goals to increase moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity. Individuals Underestimate Moderate and Vigorous Intensity Physical Activity A randomized trial comparing structured and lifestyle goals in an internet-mediated walking program for people with type 2 diabetes Health-enhancing physical activity among Saudi adults using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Study protocol: the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of an employer-led intervention to increase walking during the daily commute: the Travel to Work randomised controlled trial Use of Accelerometer-Based Feedback of Walking Activity for Appraising Progress With Walking-Related Goals in Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation
Background The majority of older adults do not reach the physical activity guidelines . One possible explanation for this may be that older adults overestimate their physical activity levels , because they are unable to identify exercise intensity . Methods Forty-four older adults were recruited and r and omly assigned into two walking groups lasting 6 weeks . The intervention group was asked to walk a minimum of 150 min per week at moderate intensity using walking cadence indicated with a pedometer . The control group did not get any feedback on walking intensity . Results The ability to identify moderate intensity while walking did not significantly improve in neither groups ( p = 0.530 ) . However , participants in the intervention group increased significantly the time spent at moderate intensity , in 10 min bouts ( p < 0.01 ) . Discussion A pedometer providing walking cadence to reach moderate intensity is a good tool for increasing time walked at the recommended intensity , but not because participants know more what is considered moderate intensity UNLABELLED Current physical activity guidelines recommend physical activity of at least moderate intensity to gain health benefits . Previous studies have recommended a moderate-intensity walking cadence of 100 steps per minute for adults , but the influence of height or stride length has not been investigated . PURPOSE the purpose of the current study was to determine the role of height and stride length in moderate-intensity walking cadence in adults . METHODS seventy-five adults completed three treadmill walking trials and three overground walking trials at slow , medium , and fast walking speeds while V˙O2 was measured using indirect calorimetry . Five stride length-related variables were also measured . RESULTS mixed model regression analysis demonstrated that height explained as much variability in walking intensity at a given cadence as did two different measures of leg length and two different stride length tests . CONCLUSIONS the previous general recommendations of 100 steps per minute were supported for use where a simple public health message is needed . Depending on height , moderate-intensity walking cadence can vary by more than 20 steps per minute , from 90 to 113 steps per minute for adults 198 to 152 cm tall , respectively . Height should therefore be taken into consideration for more precise evaluation or prescription of walking cadence in adults to provide health benefits OBJECTIVES To determine self-selected brisk walking pace in currently inactive adults and investigate the efficacy of rhythmic auditory stimuli to regulate moderate intensity walking . DESIGN A single- sample controlled laboratory design . METHODS Currently inactive adults ( N=25 ; 76 % female ; age=34±13yr ) completed a moderate intensity treadmill walking trial , during which cadence and steady-state O2 were measured . Participants then completed a 10-min self-paced " brisk " walk followed by a 10-min moderate-paced walk , prompted by a clip-on metronome matched to the treadmill cadence . Data were analyzed using RM t-test , Cohen 's d , Bl and -Altman plot , and one-way RM ANOVA . RESULTS Mean energy expenditure and cadence during the treadmill trial were 3.88±0.53METs and 114±8stepsmin(-1 ) . During self-paced brisk walking cadence was 124±8stepsmin(-1 ) . Cadence during metronome-paced walking was slower for all participants ( 114±8stepsmin(-1 ) ; p<0.05 , d=1.23 ) . From the Bl and -Altman plots , 23 participants walked within ±3stepsmin(-1 ) of the metronome cadence , and the other 2 participants were within ±10stepsmin(-1 ) . There were no significant differences ( p>0.05 ) among the minute-by-minute cadences across the 10min of either condition . CONCLUSIONS Energy expenditure during 2.7 mph treadmill walking was higher than 3 METs . Inactive adults walk at a higher cadence during " brisk " walking , compared to walking at a metronome-guided moderate pace . While the natural walking pace of inactive adults was at an intensity known to produce health benefits , and was maintained for 10min , the use of rhythmic auditory feedback is an effective method for regulating walking at a prescribed intensity in inactive adults QUESTION Are ambulant patients who are admitted for inpatient rehabilitation for a lower limb orthopaedic condition active enough to meet current physical activity guidelines ? DESIGN Prospect i ve observational study . PARTICIPANTS Adults admitted for inpatient rehabilitation for a lower limb orthopaedic condition who were cognitively alert and able to walk independently or with assistance . OUTCOME MEASURES Participants wore an activity monitor for three full days .  Daily time spent in moderate intensity physical activity  was used to determine whether the levels of physical activity recommended in clinical guidelines were achieved . RESULTS Fifty-four participants with a mean age of 74 years ( SD 11 ) took a median of 398 ( IQR 140 to 993 ) steps per day and spent a median of 8 ( IQR 3 to 16 ) minutes walking per day . No participant completed a 10-minute bout of moderate intensity physical activity during the monitoring period . One participant accumulated 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity and nine participants accumulated 15 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity in a day . Physical activity was associated with shorter length of stay ( r=-0.43 ) and higher functional status on discharge ( r=0.39 ) . CONCLUSIONS Adults with lower limb orthopaedic conditions in inpatient rehabilitation are relatively inactive and do not meet current physical activity guidelines for older adults . Results of this study indicate that strategies to increase physical activity are required Introduction The health benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise are well-known . Such exercise , however , has traditionally been defined as vigorous physical activity , such as jogging , swimming , or aerobic dance . Exercise of moderate intensity also promotes health , and many U.S. adults may be experiencing the health benefits of exercise through lifestyle activities of moderate intensity , such as yard work , housework , or walking for transportation . Until recently , public health surveillance systems have not included assessment s of this type of physical activity , focusing on exercise of vigorous intensity . We used an enhanced surveillance tool to describe the prevalence and amount of both moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity among U.S. adults . Methods We analyzed data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System , a state-based , r and om-digit  – dialed telephone survey administered to U.S. adults aged 18 years and older ( n = 82,834 men and 120,286 women ) .  Physical activity behavior was assessed using questions design ed to quantify the frequency of participation in moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activities performed during leisure time or for household chores and transportation . Results Overall , 45 % of adults ( 48 % of men and 43 % of women ) were active at recommended levels during nonworking hours ( at least 30 minutes five or more days per week in moderate-intensity activities , equivalent to brisk walking , or at least 20 minutes three or more days per week in vigorous activities , equivalent to running , heavy yard work , or aerobic dance ) . Less than 16 % of adults ( 15 % of men and 17 % of women ) reported no moderate or vigorous activity in a usual week . Conclusion Integrating surveillance of lifestyle activities into national systems is possible , and doing so may provide a more accurate representation of the prevalence of recommended levels of physical activity . These results , however , suggest that the majority of U.S. adults are not active at levels associated with the promotion and maintenance of health PURPOSE The study investigated ( a ) walking intensity ( stride rate and energy expenditure ) under three speed instructions ; ( b ) associations between stride rate , age , height , and walking intensity ; and ( c ) synchronization between stride rate and music tempo during overground walking in a population of healthy older adults . METHODS Twenty-nine participants completed 3 treadmill-walking trials and 3 overground-walking trials at 3 self-selected speeds . Treadmill VO2  was measured using indirect calorimetry .  Stride rate and music tempo were recorded during overground-walking trials . RESULTS Mean stride rate exceeded minimum thresholds for moderate to vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) under slow ( 111.41 ± 11.93 ) , medium ( 118.17 ± 11.43 ) , and fast ( 123.79 ± 11.61 ) instructions . A multilevel model showed that stride rate , age , and height have a significant effect ( p < .01 ) on walking intensity . CONCLUSIONS Healthy older adults achieve MVPA with stride rates that fall below published minima for MVPA . Stride rate , age , and height are significant predictors of energy expenditure in this population . Music can be a useful way to guide walking cadence INTRODUCTION Engaging in > 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity weekly is recommended for optimal health . The relationship between walking , the most common activity especially for older adults , and total mortality is not well documented . METHODS Data from a large U.S. prospect i ve cohort study including 62,178 men ( mean age 70.7 years ) and 77,077 women ( mean age 68.9 years ) , among whom 24,688 men and 18,933 women died during 13 years of follow-up ( 1999 - 2012 ) , were used to compute multivariable-adjusted hazard rate ratios and 95 % CIs for walking as the sole form of activity or adjusted for other moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity in relation to total and cause-specific mortality ( data analysis 2015 - 2016 ) . RESULTS Inactivity compared with walking only at less than recommended levels was associated with higher all-cause mortality ( hazard rate ratio=1.26 , 95 % CI=1.21 , 1.31 ) . Meeting one to two times the recommendations through walking only was associated with lower all-cause mortality ( hazard rate ratio=0.80 , 95 % CI=0.78 , 0.83 ) . Associations with walking adjusted for other moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity were similar to walking only . Walking was most strongly associated with respiratory disease mortality followed by cardiovascular disease mortality and then cancer mortality . CONCLUSIONS In older adults , walking below minimum recommended levels is associated with lower all-cause mortality compared with inactivity . Walking at or above physical activity recommendations is associated with even greater decreased risk . Walking is simple , free , and does not require any training , and thus is an ideal activity for most Americans , especially as they age Background Pedometer-based programs have elicited increased walking behaviors associated with improvements in blood pressure in sedentary/low active postmenopausal women , a population at increased risk of cardiovascular disease . Such programs typically encourage increasing the volume of physical activity with little regard for its intensity . Recent advances in commercially available pedometer technology now permit tracking of both steps/day and time in moderate ( or greater ) intensity physical activity on a daily basis . It is not known whether the dual message to increase steps/day while also increasing time spent at higher intensity walking will elicit additional improvements in blood pressure relative to a message to only focus on increasing steps/day . The purpose of this paper is to present the rationale , study design , and protocol s employed in WalkMore , a 3-arm 3-month blinded and r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) design ed to compare the effects of two community pedometer-based walking interventions ( reflecting these separate and combined messages ) relative to a control group on blood pressure in sedentary/low active post-menopausal women , a population at increased risk of cardiovascular disease . Methods / Design 120 sedentary/low active post-menopausal women ( 45 - 74 years of age ) will be r and omly assigned ( computer-generated ) to 1 of 3 groups : A ) 10,000 steps/day ( with no guidance on walking intensity/speed/cadence ; BASIC intervention , n = 50 ) ; B ) 10,000 steps/day and at least 30 minutes in moderate intensity ( i.e. , a cadence of at least 100 steps/min ; ENHANCED intervention , n = 50 ) ; or a Control group ( n = 20 ) . An important strength of the study is the strict control and quantification of the pedometer-based physical activity interventions . The primary outcome is systolic blood pressure . Secondary outcomes include diastolic blood pressure , anthropometric measurements , fasting blood glucose and insulin , flow mediated dilation , gait speed , and accelerometer-determined physical activity and sedentary behavior . Discussion This study can make important contributions to our underst and ing of the relative benefits that walking volume and /or intensity may have on blood pressure in a population at risk of cardiovascular disease . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Record NCT01519583 , January 18 , BACKGROUND This study was design ed to test different ways of meeting the new ACSM/CDC recommendations for physical activity stating that all Americans at least 2 years of age should obtain 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on most days of the week . METHODS Thirty-two sedentary 18- to 55-year-old adults were r and omly assigned to three groups of brisk walking/6 days per week : 30 continuous minutes , three 10-minute bouts , and 30 minutes in any combination of bouts as long as each bout was at least 5 minutes .  Aerobic fitness , blood pressure , body composition , and physical activity were assessed at baseline , at end of program ( 16 weeks ) , and at follow-up ( 32 weeks ) . RESULTS All groups significantly ( P < /= 0.05 ) improved their aerobic fitness and systolic blood pressure and increased their physical activity at the end of the program . At follow-up all groups maintained these changes , while additionally reducing their percentage body fat and diastolic blood pressure . CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that a walking prescription of 30 minutes per day on most days of the week with the choice to walk in as little as 5 minute bouts can improve cardiovascular health and body composition , as well as help sedentary people maintain those improvements over time . This is supported by all participants indicating that " making walking part of my lifestyle " was the most important factor in maintaining their walking habits Study objective : To compare health walks , a community based lay-led walking scheme versus advice only on physical activity  and cardiovascular health status in middle aged adults . Design : R and omised controlled trial with one year follow up . Physical activity was measured by question naire . Other measures included attitudes to exercise , body mass index , cholesterol , aerobic capacity , and blood pressure . Setting : Primary care and community . Participants : 260 men and women aged 40–70 years , taking less than 120 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week . Main results : Seventy three per cent of people completed the trial . Of these , the proportion increasing their activity above 120 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week was 22.6 % in the advice only and 35.7 % in the health walks group at 12 months ( between group difference = 13 % ( 95 % CI 0.003 % to 25.9 % ) p=0.05 ) . Intention to treat analysis , using the last known value for missing cases , demonstrated smaller differences between the groups ( between group difference = 6 % ( 95 % CI −5 % to 16.4 % ) ) with the trend in favour of health walks . There were improvements in the total time spent and number of occasions of moderate intensity activity , and aerobic capacity , but no statistically significant differences between the groups . Other cardiovascular risk factors remained unchanged . Conclusions : There were no significant between group differences in self reported physical activity at 12 month follow up when the analysis was by intention to treat . In people who completed the trial , health walks was more effective than giving advice only in increasing moderate intensity activity above 120 minutes per week INTRODUCTION Walking may be a strategy for increasing moderate-intensity physical activity ( MPA )  during pregnancy . PURPOSE This study aim ed to promote MPA among overweight and obese pregnant women , via walking , and to evaluate the effect of the intervention on maternal and birth outcomes . METHODS Thirty-seven overweight or obese pregnant women were r and omly assigned to a walking intervention or control group . Anthropometric and objective PA ( StepWatch ™ Activity Monitor ) data were collected for four 1-wk periods : weeks 10 - 14 ( V1 ) , weeks 17 - 19 ( V2 ) , weeks 27 - 29 ( V3 ) , and weeks 34 - 36 ( V4 ) of gestation . Participants provided information about maternal and birth outcomes . A cadence of ≥ 80 steps per minute was defined as MPA , and " meaningful walking " was defined as moderate walking in ≥ 8-min bouts . ANOVA was used to determine the differences in walking amount and meaningful walks , the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for walking intensity distribution analysis , and Fisher 's exact test was used for maternal and infant outcomes analyses . Pearson correlation was used to examine the association between prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain ( GWG ) . RESULTS There was significantly more MPA among women in the intervention group compared with those in the control group at V2 ( overweight , P < 0.0001 ; obese , P < 0.025 ) , V3 ( overweight , P < 0.0001 ) , and V4 ( overweight , P < 0.0001 ; obese , P < 0.025 ) . Women in the intervention group significantly increased their meaningful walks at V2 ( P = 0.054 ) , V3 ( P = 0.01 ) , and V4 ( P = 0.014 ) . There were trends for intervention group women to have more favorable maternal and birth outcomes compared with the control group . Rates of GWG at measurement points during pregnancy were significantly associated with preceding rates of GWG . CONCLUSION The pilot , unsupervised walking intervention increased the MPA of overweight and obese women during pregnancy BACKGROUND Although many Japanese older adults spend more than an hour each day walking for exercise , the intensity is often lower than the minimum level associated with various health benefits . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a lifestyle physical activity intervention on improving quantity and quality of daily physical activity ( DPA ) as well as cardiorespiratory endurance in community-dwelling older women . METHODS 68 women ( 60 - 78 yr of age ) were r and omly assigned to either a lifestyle physical activity intervention group ( LIFE ) or control group . During the 12-wk intervention , feedback based on accelerometer DPA data ( number of daily steps ( STEPS ) and time spent performing daily moderate intensity physical activity ( MPA ) was provided to each participant in LIFE every two weeks . Cardiorespiratory endurance was evaluated using the 12-Minute Walk Test ( 12-MW ) . RESULTS Following the 12-wk intervention , significant group interactions were observed for STEPS , MPA , and cardiorespiratory endurance . LIFE increased STEPS by 16 % , MPA by 53 % , and the distance walked during the 12-MW by 10 % . CONCLUSIONS Promotion of DPA using accelerometers can significantly improve quantity and quality of daily physical activity as well as cardiorespiratory endurance in older women The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the activPAL physical activity monitor in measuring step number and cadence in older adults .  Two pedometers ( New-Lifestyles Digi-Walker SW-200 and New-Lifestyles NL2000 ) used in clinical practice to count steps were simultaneously evaluated . Observation was the criterion measure . Twenty-one participants ( 65 - 87 yr old ) recruited from community-based exercise classes walked on a treadmill at 5 speeds ( 0.67 , 0.90 , 1.12 , 1.33 , and 1.56 m/s ) and outdoors at 3 self-selected speeds ( slow , normal , and fast ) . The absolute percentage error of the activPAL was < 1 % for all treadmill and outdoor conditions for measuring steps and cadence . With the exception of the slowest treadmill speed , the NL-2000 error was < 2 % . The SW-200 was the least accurate device , particularly at slower walking speeds . The activPAL monitor accurately recorded step number and cadence . Combined with its ability to identify primary postures , the activPAL might be a useful and versatile device for measuring activity in older adults Identifying alternative exercise modalities in an effort to stimulate and promote participation in physical activity , especially among older adults , is a critical health consideration . The purpose of this study was to compare physiological and psychological responses to medical qigong with self-paced brisk walking .  Older women ( 55 - 79 years ) performed 22 min of either qigong or walking on two separate days . During exercise performance , heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion were assessed . Psychological affect , blood pressure , and pulse rate were assessed before and after the exercise bouts . Heart-rate data indicated that both forms of exercise were at a moderate level of intensity . In addition , similar values were found for the physiological and psychological variables as a function of the two forms of exercise . Therefore , it was concluded that this form of medical qigong can be considered a moderate-intensity physical activity that should have both physiological and psychological benefits for older women Background National guidelines call for exercise of at least moderate intensity ; however , recommending self-paced exercise may lead to better adherence , particularly among overweight and obese adults . Purpose The purpose of this study was to test proof-of-concept for recommending self-paced exercise among overweight adults . Methods Fifty-nine healthy , low-active ( exercise < 60 min/week ) , overweight ( body mass index 25.0–39.9 ) adults ( 18–65 ) received a 6-month print-based exercise promotion program with the goal of walking 30–60 min/day . Participants were surreptitiously r and omly assigned to receive a recommendation for either self-paced ( n = 30 ) or moderate ( 64–76 % maximum heart rate ; n = 29 ) intensity exercise . All participants used electronic diaries and heart rate monitors to track exercise frequency , duration , and intensity . Results The self-paced condition reported more minutes/week of walking ( f2 = 0.17 , p = 0.045 ) and a trend toward greater exercise-related energy expenditure/week ( f2 = 0.12 , p = 0.243 ) , corresponding to approximately 26 additional minutes/week and 83 additional kilocalories/week over 6 months . Conclusions Explicit recommendation for self-paced exercise may improve adherence to exercise programs among overweight and obese adults Background — Vigorous exertion and endurance training have been reported to increase  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) .  Associations of habitual light or moderate activity with AF incidence have not been evaluated . Methods and Results — We prospect ively investigated associations of leisure-time activity , exercise intensity , and walking habits , assessed at baseline and up date d during follow-up visits , with incident AF , diagnosed by annual 12-lead ECGs and hospital discharge records , from 1989 to 2001 among 5446 adults ≥65 years of age in the Cardiovascular Health Study . During 47 280 person-years of follow-up , 1061 new AF cases occurred ( incidence 22.4/1000 person-years ) . In multivariable-adjusted analyses , leisure-time activity was associated with lower AF incidence in a grade d manner , with 25 % ( hazard ratio [ HR ] 0.75 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 0.61 to 0.90 ) , 22 % ( HR 0.78 , 95 % CI 0.65 to 0.95 ) , and 36 % ( HR 0.64 , 95 % CI 0.52 to 0.79 ) lower risk in quintiles 3 , 4 , and 5 versus quintile 1 ( P for trend < 0.001 ) . Exercise intensity had a U-shaped relationship with AF ( quadratic P=0.02 ) : Versus no exercise , AF incidence was lower with moderate-intensity exercise ( HR 0.72 , 95 % CI 0.58 to 0.89 ) but not with high-intensity exercise ( HR 0.87 , 95 % CI 0.64 to 1.19 ) . Walking distance and pace were each associated with lower AF risk in a grade d manner ( P for trend < 0.001 ) ; when we assessed the combined effects of distance and pace , individuals in quartiles 2 , 3 , and 4 had 25 % ( HR 0.75 , 95 % CI 0.56 to 0.99 ) , 32 % ( HR 0.68 , 95 % CI 0.50 to 0.92 ) , and 44 % ( HR 0.56 , 95 % CI 0.38 to 0.82 ) lower AF incidence than individuals in quartile 1 . Findings appeared unrelated to confounding by comorbidity or indication . After evaluation of cut points of moderate leisure-time activity ( ≈600 kcal/week ) , walking distance ( 12 blocks per week ) , and pace ( 2 mph ) , 26 % of all new AF cases ( 95 % CI 7 % to 43 % ) appeared attributable to absence of these activities . Conclusions — Light to moderate physical activities , particularly leisure-time activity and walking , are associated with significantly lower AF incidence in older adults Introduction Physical activity participation is low among blacks , and strategies are needed to successfully create immediate and sustained behavior change related to physical activity . Churches can play an important role in health promotion efforts among blacks because of their central role in spiritual guidance , communication , social support , and networking . This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a physical activity program for sedentary black adults in churches . Methods We used a preintervention/postintervention single-group design to evaluate the effect of a 3-month faith-based physical activity intervention on  daily walking and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity  among sedentary blacks . Eighty-seven black adults participated in eight group sessions that included discussion of physical activity-related topics , an instructor-led physical activity session , and weekly incentives to promote physical activity . We used a question naire to assess moderate and vigorous physical activity in minutes per week at baseline and after 3 months . Walking was assessed weekly in steps per day by using a pedometer . Results Participants ( mean age , 52 yrs ; mean body mass index , 35 kg/m2 ) reported 27 ± 54 and 10 ± 25 minutes per week in moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity , respectively , and walked 4822 ± 2351 steps per day at baseline . After 12 weeks , moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity increased by 67 ± 78 and 44 ± 66 minutes per week , respectively ( P ≤ .01 ) , and daily walking increased by 1373 ± 728 steps per day ( P < .001 ) . Conclusion These data suggest that a faith-based physical activity intervention may be an appropriate strategy for increasing physical activity among sedentary black adults . Future research will determine the impact of this program in a r and omized , controlled design BACKGROUND Increasing moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity ( MVPA ) is an important public health goal . Pedometers are evidence -based devices for increasing daily activity , but studies have not evaluated the comparative efficacy of step cadence goals for increasing MVPA . PURPOSE This study aim ed to evaluate the efficacy of three pedometer-based step goals for increasing MVPA . METHODS Latina women ( n = 180 ; 18 - 55 yr , mean body mass index = 31.1 , SD = 6.5 ) were recruited to 12 community centers , which were r and omly assigned to one of three conditions . Each group received an identical 12-wk theory-based physical activity ( PA ) intervention that differed only on the type of daily step goal : 1 ) a self-selected goal ( SELF ) ; 2 ) a goal of 10,000 steps per day ( FREQUENCY ) ; or 3 ) a goal of 3000 steps in 30 min ( CADENCE ) . Accelerometer-based PA  was measured at baseline and after 12 wk . RESULTS Adjusted multilevel pattern-mixture models using generalized estimating equations revealed that participants in the CADENCE condition engaged in similar levels of postintervention MVPA to those in the SELF and FREQUENCY goal conditions . However , MVPA of participants in the CADENCE condition was more likely to occur in bouts lasting greater than 10 consecutive minutes compared with the MVPA of participants in the SELF ( P = 0.01 ) or FREQUENCY ( P = 0001 ) conditions . CONCLUSIONS PA interventions should consider including a step cadence goal to help individuals accumulate bout-based MVPA and meet national PA guidelines Background It is unclear whether the common physical activity ( PA ) intensity descriptors used in PA guidelines worldwide align with the associated percent heart rate maximum method used for prescribing relative PA intensities consistently between sexes , ethnicities , age categories and across body mass index ( BMI ) classifications . Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine whether individuals properly select light , moderate and vigorous intensity PA using the intensity descriptions in PA guidelines and determine if there are differences in estimation across sex , ethnicity , age and BMI classifications . Methods 129 adults were instructed to walk/jog at a “ light , ” “ moderate ” and “ vigorous effort ” in a r and omized order . The PA intensities were categorized as being below , at or above the following % HRmax ranges of : 50–63 % for light , 64–76 % for moderate and 77–93 % for vigorous effort . Results On average , people correctly estimated light effort as 51.5±8.3%HRmax but underestimated moderate effort as 58.7±10.7%HRmax and vigorous effort as 69.9±11.9%HRmax . Participants walked at a light intensity ( 57.4±10.5%HRmax ) when asked to walk at a pace that provided health benefits , wherein 52 % of participants walked at a light effort pace , 19 % walked at a moderate effort and 5 % walked at a vigorous effort pace . These results did not differ by sex , ethnicity or BMI class . However , younger adults  underestimated moderate and vigorous intensity more so than middle-aged adults ( P<0.05 ) . Conclusion When the common PA guideline descriptors were aligned with the associated % HRmax ranges , the majority of participants underestimated the intensity of PA that is needed to obtain health benefits . Thus , new subjective descriptions for moderate and vigorous intensity may be warranted to aid individuals in correctly interpreting PA intensities Background The majority of individuals with type 2 diabetes do not exercise regularly . Pedometer-based walking interventions can help ; however , pedometer-based interventions targeting only total daily accumulated steps might not yield the same health benefits as physical activity programs specifying a minimum duration and intensity of physical activity bouts . Methods This pilot r and omized trial compared two goal - setting strategies : 1 ) lifestyle goals targeting total daily accumulated step counts and 2 ) structured goals targeting bout steps defined as walking that lasts for 10 minutes or longer at a pace of at least 60 steps per minute . We sought to determine which goal - setting strategy was more effective at increasing bout steps . Participants were sedentary adults with type 2 diabetes . All participants : wore enhanced pedometers with embedded USB ports ; uploaded detailed , time-stamped step-count data to a website called Stepping Up to Health ; and received automated step-count feedback , automatically calculated goals , and tailored motivational messages throughout the six-week intervention . Only the automated goal calculations and step-count feedback differed between the two groups . The primary outcome of interest was increase in steps taken during the previously defined bouts of walking ( lasting at least 10 minutes or longer at a pace of at least 60 steps per minute ) between baseline and end of the intervention . Results Thirty-five participants were r and omized and 30 ( 86 % ) completed the pilot study . Both groups significantly increased bout steps , but there was no statistically significant difference between groups . Among study completers , bout steps increased by 1921 ± 2729 steps a day . Those who received lifestyle goals were more satisfied with the intervention ( p = 0.006 ) and wore the pedometer more often ( p < 0.001 ) than those who received structured goals . Conclusion In this six-week intervention , Lifestyle Goals group participants achieved increases in bout steps comparable to the increases seen in the Structured Goals group , representing almost a mile a day of additional moderate intensity bout activity . Pedometer-based walking programs that emphasize total accumulated step counts are more acceptable to participants and are as effective at increasing moderate intensity bouts of physical activity as programs that use structured goals .Trial registration OBJECTIVES To describe the physical activity profile of Saudi adults living in Riyadh , using the International Physical Activity Question naire ( IPAQ ) short-version telephone format . METHODS  Physical activity  was assessed using the official Arabic short form of IPAQ , intended for use in telephone interview . The instrument asks for times spent in walking , moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity of at least 10 min duration . The sample consisted of 1616 Saudis , between 15 and 78 years of age , living in Riyadh . Participants were drawn from a list of names in the telephone book using a simple r and om method . Telephone interviews were administered during the spring of 2003 by trained male interviewers . RESULTS The final sample size was 1064 Saudi males and females ( response rate of 66 % ) , with males comprising about 66 % of the respondents . Over 43 % of Saudis did not participate in any type of moderate-intensity physical activity lasting for at least 10 min . More than 72 % of the sample did not engage in any type of vigorous-intensity physical activity lasting for at least 10 min . The proportion of Saudis who walked for 150 min or more per week was 33.3 % . Females were engaged more in moderate physical activity than males , whereas males participated more in vigorous activity compared with females . Activity levels did not show significant relationships with education level or job hours per week . Based on the three activity categories established by IPAQ , 40.6 % of Saudis were inactive , 34.3 % were minimally active and 25.1 % were physically active . Physical inactivity increased with advancing age . CONCLUSION The data suggest that the prevalence of physical inactivity among Saudis adults is relatively high . Efforts are needed to encourage Saudis to be more physically active , with the goal of increasing the proportion of Saudis engaging in health-enhancing physical activity Background Physical inactivity increases the risk of many chronic diseases including coronary heart disease , type 2 diabetes and some cancers . It is recommended that adults should undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity throughout the week but many adults do not achieve this . An opportunity for working adults to accumulate the recommended activity levels is through the daily commute . Methods Employees will be recruited from workplaces in south-west Engl and and south Wales . In the intervention arm ,  workplace Walk-to-Work promoters  will be recruited and trained . Participating employees will receive Walk-to-Work material  s and support will be provided through four contacts from the promoters over 10 weeks . Workplaces in the control arm will continue with their usual practice . The intervention will be evaluated by a cluster r and omized controlled trial including economic and process evaluations . The primary outcome is daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) . Secondary outcomes are : overall physical activity ; sedentary time ; modal shift away from private car use during the commute ; and physical activity/MVPA during the commute .  Accelerometers , GPS receivers and travel diaries will be used at baseline and one year follow-up . Question naires will be used at baseline , immediately post intervention , and one year follow-up . The process evaluation will examine the context , delivery and response to the intervention from the perspectives of employers , Walk-to-Work promoters and employees using question naires , descriptive statistics , fieldnotes and interviews . A cost-consequence study will include employer , employee and health service costs and outcomes . Time and consumables used in implementing the intervention will be measured . Journey time , household commuting costs and expenses will be recorded using travel diaries to estimate costs to employees . Presenteeism , absenteeism , employee wellbeing and health service use will be recorded . Discussion Compared with other forms of physical activity , walking is a popular , familiar and convenient , and the main option for increasing physical activity in sedentary population s. To our knowledge , this is the first full-scale r and omised controlled trial to objective ly measure ( using accelerometers and GPS receivers ) the effectiveness of a workplace intervention to promote walking during the commute to and from work . Trial registration IS RCT N15009100 ( 10 December 2014 ) Background . Regaining independent ambulation is important to those with stroke . Increased walking practice during “ down time ” in rehabilitation could improve walking function for individuals with stroke . Objective . To determine the effect of providing physiotherapists with accelerometer-based feedback on patient activity and walking-related goals during inpatient stroke rehabilitation . Methods . Participants with stroke wore accelerometers around both ankles every weekday during inpatient rehabilitation . Participants were r and omly assigned to receive daily feedback about walking activity via their physiotherapists  ( n = 29 )  or to receive no feedback  ( n = 28 ) . Changes in measures of daily walking ( walking time , number of steps , average cadence , longest bout duration , and number of “ long ” walking bouts ) and changes in gait control and function assessed in-laboratory were compared between groups . Results . There was no significant increase in walking time , number of steps , longest bout duration , or number of long walking bouts for the feedback group compared with the control group ( P values > .20 ) . However , individuals who received feedback significantly increased cadence of daily walking more than the control group ( P = .013 ) . From the in-laboratory gait assessment , individuals who received feedback had a greater increase in walking speed and decrease in step time variability than the control group ( P values < .030 ) . Conclusion . Feedback did not increase the amount of walking completed by individuals with stroke . However , there was a significant increase in cadence , indicating that intensity of daily walking was greater for those who received feedback than the control group . Additionally , more intense daily walking activity appeared to translate to greater improvements in walking speed
In general , 100 steps/minute is prescribed for adults to achieve moderate intensity , but older adults may require a higher cadence .
Currently , few studies have explored using walking cadence prescription as an intervention to increase physical activity levels .
Conclusion .
Prescribing walking cadence as a way to increase physical activity levels has potential as a practical and useful strategy , but more evidence is required to assess its ability to increase physical activity levels at moderate intensity
Background .
Most adults choose walking as a leisure activity .
However , many do not reach the international physical activity guidelines for adults , which recommend moderate intensity aerobic activity for at least 150 minutes/week in bouts of 10 minutes .
Purpose .
This systematic review provides an up date on the walking cadence required to reach moderate intensity in adults and older adults , identifies variables associated with reaching moderate intensity , and evaluates how walking cadence intensity should be measured , but the main purpose is to report the interventions that have been attempted to prescribe walking cadence to increase time spent at moderate intensity or other outcomes for adults and older adults .