There was no significant between group difference in six-minute walk test distance .
Conclusions Our meta- analysis showed WPAM with exercise prescription or advice are superior to no device in improving CRF in the maintenance phase of CR and no cardiac adverse events were reported with WPAM use .
Our qualitative analysis showed evidence in favour of WPAM with exercise prescription or advice for both CRF and step count .
WPAM with exercise prescription or advice did not change sedentary time .
Background Physical activity ( PA ) is a component of cardiac rehabilitation ( CR ) .
However , life-long engagement in PA is required to maintain benefits gained .
Wearable PA monitoring devices ( WPAM ) are thought to increase PA .
There appear to be no review s which investigate the effect of WPAM in cardiac population s. We firstly aim ed to systematic ally review r and omised controlled trials within the cardiac population that investigated the effect WPAM had through the maintenance phase of CR .
We specifically examined the effect on cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) , amount and intensity of daily PA , and sedentary time .
Randomized Trial of a Fitbit-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Women.
INTRODUCTION Direct-to-consumer mHealth devices are a potential asset to behavioral research but rarely tested as intervention tools . This trial examined the accelerometer-based Fitbit tracker and website as a low-touch physical activity intervention . The purpose of this study is to evaluate , within an RCT , the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of integrating the Fitbit tracker and website into a physical activity intervention for postmenopausal women . METHODS Fifty-one inactive , postmenopausal women with BMI ≥25.0 were r and omized to a 16-week web-based self-monitoring intervention ( n=25 ) or comparison group ( n=26 ) . The Web-Based Tracking Group received a Fitbit , instructional session , and follow-up call at 4 weeks . The comparison group received a st and ard pedometer . All were asked to perform 150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) . Physical activity outcomes were measured by the ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer . RESULTS Data were collected and analyzed in 2013 - 2014 . Participants were aged 60 ( SD=7 ) years with BMI of 29.2 ( 3.5 ) kg/m(2 ) . Relative to baseline , the Web-Based Tracking Group increased MVPA by 62 ( 108 ) minutes/week ( p<0.01 ) ; 10-minute MVPA bouts by 38 ( 83 ) minutes/week ( p=0.008 ) ; and steps by 789 ( 1,979 ) ( p=0.01 ) , compared to non-significant increases in the Pedometer Group ( between-group p=0.11 , 0.28 , and 0.30 , respectively ) . The Web-Based Tracking Group wore the tracker on 95 % of intervention days ; 96 % reported liking the website and 100 % liked the tracker . CONCLUSIONS The Fitbit was well accepted in this sample of women and associated with increased physical activity at 16 weeks . Leveraging direct-to-consumer mHealth technologies aligned with behavior change theories can strengthen physical activity interventions
There was no significant between group difference in six-minute walk test distance .
Conclusions Our meta- analysis showed WPAM with exercise prescription or advice are superior to no device in improving CRF in the maintenance phase of CR and no cardiac adverse events were reported with WPAM use .
Our qualitative analysis showed evidence in favour of WPAM with exercise prescription or advice for both CRF and step count .
WPAM with exercise prescription or advice did not change sedentary time .
Background Physical activity ( PA ) is a component of cardiac rehabilitation ( CR ) .
However , life-long engagement in PA is required to maintain benefits gained .
Wearable PA monitoring devices ( WPAM ) are thought to increase PA .
There appear to be no review s which investigate the effect of WPAM in cardiac population s. We firstly aim ed to systematic ally review r and omised controlled trials within the cardiac population that investigated the effect WPAM had through the maintenance phase of CR .
We specifically examined the effect on cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) , amount and intensity of daily PA , and sedentary time .