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 .
Use of activity tracking in major visceral surgery—the Enhanced Perioperative Mobilization (EPM) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background Enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) programs are aim ed at minimizing postoperative stress and accelerating postoperative recovery by implementing multiple perioperative principles . “ Early mobilization ” is one such principle , but the quality of assessment and monitoring is poor , and evidence of improved outcome is lacking . Activity trackers allow precise monitoring and automatic feedback to the patients to enhance their motivation for early mobilization . The aim of the study is to monitor and increase the postoperative mobilization of patients by giving them continuous automatic feedback in the form of a step count using activity-tracking wristb and s. Methods / design Patients undergoing elective open and laparoscopic surgery of the colon , rectum , stomach , pancreas , and liver for any indication will be included . Further inclusion criteria are age between 18 and 75 years , American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status class less than IV , and a signed informed consent form . Patients will be stratified into two subgroups , laparoscopic and open surgery , and will be r and omized 1:1 for automatic feedback of their step count using an activity tracker wristb and . The control group will have no automatic feedback . The sample size ( n = 30 patients in each of the four groups , overall n = 120 ) is calculated on the basis of an assumed difference in step count of 250 steps daily ( intervention group versus control group ) . The primary study endpoint is the average step count during the first 5 postoperative days ; secondary endpoints are the percentage of patients in the two groups who master the predefined mobilization ( step count ) targets , assessment of additional activity data obtained from the devices , assessment of preoperative mobility , length of hospital and intensive care unit stays , number of patients who receive physiotherapy , 30-day mortality , and overall 30-day morbidity . Discussion Early mobilization is a key element of ERAS . However , enhanced early mobilization is difficult to define , to assess objective ly , and to implement in clinical practice . Consequently , there is a discrepancy between ERAS targets and actual practice , especially in patients undergoing major visceral surgery . This study is the first r and omized controlled trial investigating the use and feasibility of activity tracking to monitor and enhance postoperative early mobilization . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov identifier : NCT02834338 . Registered on 15 June 2016
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 .