CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a consumer-based wearable activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation .
BACKGROUND The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation is irrefutable .
Despite the well-known benefits , physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialized countries .
Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education or telephone counseling are effective at increasing physical activity participation ; however , physical activity levels tend to decline over time .
Consumer-based wearable activity trackers that allow users to objective ly monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active .
OBJECTIVE This review aim ed to determine the effects of interventions utilizing consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behavior when compared with interventions that do not utilize activity tracker feedback .
Are exergames promoting mobility an attractive alternative to conventional self-regulated exercises for elderly people in a rehabilitation setting? Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Background Maintaining mobility in elderly persons has become a primary goal within healthcare services . In older adults , exercise programs significantly reduce the risk of falling and death . Long-lasting and high-intensive multi-component exercises are most effective . In a rehabilitation setting , self-regulated exercises are conventionally taught by physiotherapists , using h and outs . However , the adherence of elderly persons to executing these self-administered programs varies considerably . They are often considered tedious and boring , and thus prematurely stopped . The primary aim of this clinical trial is to determine whether elderly persons in a rehabilitation setting show higher adherence to self-regulated training when using exergames than when performing conventional exercises . The second objective is to explore which mode of exercise leads to greater improvement in balance performance . Methods / Design The study consists of a single blind , stratified , r and omized control trial with two parallel groups . Once included , study participants will be stratified according to their balance and computer skills and r and omly allocated to self-regulated training with conventional exercise programs or with exergames played with the Windows Kinect ® sensor and FitBit ® pedometer . In both groups , self-administered exercise programs will be taught by experienced physiotherapists and performed at the patient ’s own discretion during the ten days of intervention . The primary outcome is the performed daily training volume , collected by the participants in a logbook . Secondary outcomes are objective and subjective balance skills measured by an activity tracker and the Fall Efficacy Scale self-administered question naire . Both assessment s will be performed at pre- and post-intervention . Discussion According to the available literature , this study is the first to compare conventional self-regulated exercises with exergames among older patients in a rehabilitation setting . Results of this study will contribute to our underst and ing of its motivational potential on exercise adherence in elderly persons and provide more insight into the potential effectiveness of exergames promoting mobility . Trial registration The present clinical study has been registered on Clinical Trials.gov under the identifier number : NCT02077049 . The detailed trial protocol can be accessed online on : NCT02077049
CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a consumer-based wearable activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation .
BACKGROUND The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation is irrefutable .
Despite the well-known benefits , physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialized countries .
Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education or telephone counseling are effective at increasing physical activity participation ; however , physical activity levels tend to decline over time .
Consumer-based wearable activity trackers that allow users to objective ly monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active .
OBJECTIVE This review aim ed to determine the effects of interventions utilizing consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behavior when compared with interventions that do not utilize activity tracker feedback .