The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure .
CONTEXT Without detailed evidence of their effectiveness , pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity .
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes among outpatient adults .
A home-based pedometer-driven walking program to increase physical activity in older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVES To determine whether a home-based pedometer-driven walking program with arthritis self-management education ( Walk + ) would increase physical activity , muscle strength , and functional performance in older adults with osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the knee as opposed to arthritis self-management education alone ( EDU ) . DESIGN A r and omized two-by-three ( group-by-time ) design with participants assigned to  Walk + ( n = 17 , mean age + /- st and ard deviation = 69.6 + /- 6.7 ) or EDU ( n = 17 , age = 70.8 + /- 4.7 ) . SETTING Community located in the Baltimore-Washington area . PARTICIPANTS Thirty-four community-dwelling adults , aged 60 and older with symptomatic knee OA and self-reported functional impairment . INTERVENTIONS Both groups received 12 hours of the Arthritis Self-Management program over 12 weeks and were followed for an additional 12 weeks . In addition , the Walk + group received individualized instruction in the use of a pedometer , with the goal of increasing their step count by 30 % of their baseline step count . MEASUREMENTS The outcome measures were physical activity ( daily step counts and total activity vector magnitude as measured by a pedometer and Tritrac-R3D accelerometer ) , quadriceps femoris strength ( isometric peak torque ) , and functional performance tasks ( 100-foot walk-turn-walk , timed stair climb , timed chair rise , and pain status ) . RESULTS Daily steps walked showed a significant group-by-time interaction ( P = .04 ) after controlling for age . From baseline to completion of training , a 23 % increase in daily steps occurred in the Walk + group and a 15 % decrease in the EDU group . Although steps increased in the Walk + group , total activity vector magnitude was maintained , suggesting a more efficient gait . The Walk + group became quicker than the EDU group in the normal-pace walk-turn-walk ( P = .04 ) . An isometric strength gain of 21 % postintervention was seen in the Walk + group , compared with a loss of 3.5 % in the EDU group . CONCLUSION In older adults with symptomatic knee OA , Walk + appears to increase walking , with improvements in muscle strength and walking performance . The use of a home-based pedometer-driven program to increase physical activity , strength , and function in this population warrants further research
The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure .
CONTEXT Without detailed evidence of their effectiveness , pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity .
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes among outpatient adults .