Background
The US Department of Health and Human Services recognizes the importance of regular physical activity in promoting health and reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic disease. Additionally, increasing participation in moderate physical activity could reduce medical expenditures by up to $77 billion dollars1. Knowing that older adults can benefit from physically active life-styles, in turn reducing a growing public health and medical burden, attempts to promote physical activity for the elderly are necessary. Despite widespread pedometer use, little research has been done to measure the impact of pedometer-based interventions in the elderly.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to develop, implement, and test the efficacy of objective step-count feedback interventions coupled with motivational messaging to promote walking in the elderly. The project will test if interventions based on objective feedback about time spent walking are more effective than those based on subject self-reports of time spent walking.
Goals
- Develop individually tailored physical activity interventions using objective step-count monitoring feedback.
- Conduct a pilot test of the efficacy of step count interventions.
- Develop and submit a NIH grant for a large scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the interventions.
Timeline
March 2006 - May 2008
Activities
Phase 1:
Develop materials for individualized physical activity intervention using pedometer feedback as a guide.
Phase 2:
Test the efficacy of an objective self-monitoring pedometer intervention in a randomized controlled trial.
Funding Source
Center for Urban Population Health’s Center Scientist Development Program through the Wisconsin Partnership Fund
Project Partners
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Scott Strath, Ph.D.
- Ann Swartz, Ph.D.
- Michael Loy, M.S.
Center for Urban Population Health
- Dale Steber, M.S.
- Andrew Marek, B.B.A.
1 Pratt M. 2000. Higher Direct Medical Costs Associated with Physical Inactivity. Physician and sportsmedicine, 28 (10): 63-70.
