Pedometry to Prevent Cardiorespiratory Fitness Decline—Is it Effective?. Issue 10 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lystrup, Robert M.; West, Gordon F.; Olsen, Cara; Ward, Matthew; Stephens, Mark B.
• Is Part Of: Military medicine. Volume 181:Issue 10(2016)
• Page Start: 1235
• Page End: 1239
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Surgery, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Periodicals; Surgery, Military -- Periodicals; Medicine, Military; Surgery, Military; Military Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.98023
• DOI: 10.7205/MILMED-D-15-00540
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-4075

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Physically active providers are more likely to prescribe exercise. Unfortunately, many become sedentary during their training. We examined pedometry as an incentive to promote physical activity in a cohort of medical students. Methods: This was a prospective, unblinded clinical trial of pedometry. 107 preclinical medical students volunteered. 50 students received Fitbit pedometers and 57 served as controls. All students ran 1.5- or 2-mile timed runs before pedometer issue, and again 1 year after. Change in run times were the primary outcome measure. Step counts, body composition, and exercise frequency were secondary outcomes. Results: 76% of students with pedometers reported increased motivation to exercise and 57% reported changing daily routines as a result of pedometry. Active pedometry participants declined from 48/50 initially to 22/50 over 13 months. Run times slowed an average of 5.0 seconds for pedometry users vs. 12.3 seconds for the control group. This difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.48). Conclusions: A subset of future physicians reported increased motivation to exercise after a trial of pedometry. However, adherence over the long term was poor and it seems to have a limited impact on aerobic exercise performance in this population.