1. Participants
Activity Monitor-Based Health Intervention Increases Fitness in Older Adults: A Pre-experimental Pilot Study
Zakkoyya H. Lewis1
, Elizabeth J. Lyons1,2
1
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch,
2
Institute for Translational Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch
Background
• Insufficient physical activity is an increasing concern as adults age.
Evidence suggests that prolonged sedentary behavior leads to muscle
loss, negative metabolic changes, and premature deaths. Physical
activity and sedentary behavior are both independent predictors of
these outcomes.
• Pedometers are successful in increasing activity but they do not
address sedentariness.
• Electronic activity monitors paired with tablets devices can effectively
monitor and provide feedback to increase physical activity.
• This study was conducted to test the feasibility and acceptability of
activity monitors to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary
time in older adults.
• Technology can be used to increase fitness in older adults
• Technology-based intervention using mobile devices is feasible and
acceptable to this population
• The monitoring nature may also improve goal setting and planning
Activity Monitors
Method
Activity variables
Conclusions
Psychological variables
• 10 sedentary overweight adults were recruited into the 6-week clinical
trial
• Participants were screened for fitness level and psychological
measures at baseline and at the conclusion of the 6-week intervention
• The intervention provided a Jawbone Up monitor and iPad mini tablet
as well as weekly brief counseling
• For one week at baseline and at 6 weeks, participants were given a
Sense Wear armband to measure average physical activity
Results
Contact email: ellyons@utmb.edu Dr. Lyons is supported by a research career development award (K12HD052023:
Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Program –BIRCWH) from ORWH, OD, NIAID, and
NICHD (National Institutes of Health) and a beginning grant-in-aid from the American Heart Association
(13BGIA17110021). Funding for the project was provided by a pilot grant from UTMB’s Claude D. Pepper Older
Americans Independence Center and the Sealy Center on Aging. This study was conducted with the support of the
Institute for Translational Sciences, supported in part by a Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1TR000071)
from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
• Monitors were worn for an average of 6.73 days per week
• Fitness significantly improved (-50.57 ± 15.83 feet, p=0.011), but
moderate intensity physical activity showed no change (5 ± 6.86
minutes per week, p=0.487)
• Significant improvements were found for exercise-related goal setting
(p=0.014) and planning (p=0.005)
• The intervention was “easy” and “simple”
Variable Description Baseline
Scores
6-week score
Exercise-
related goal
setting
“I often set exercise goals”
“Goals help to increase my motivation for doing exercise”
“I usually keep track of my progress in meeting my goals”
“I have developed a series of steps for reaching my exercise
goals”
“I achieve the exercise goals I set for myself”
15.3±5.3 27.4±11.5 *
Planning “Never seem to have enough time to exercise”
“I schedule all events in my life around my exercise routine”
“I schedule my exercise at specific times each week”
“Everything is scheduled around my exercise routine– both
classes and work”
“Write planned activity sessions in an appointment book or
calendar”
20.0±3.9 28.3±6.7 ᵻ
scores are significantly different from baseline, *p<0.05, ᵻp<0.01
• *p<0.05, significantly different from baseline
N=10 (F=7, M=3)
Age (years) Weight (kg) Height (cm) BMI (kg/m2)
60.9±4.4 85.6±18.4 168.5±10.3 29.9±3.4
The activity monitor (A) is worn around the wrist of each participant and syncs to a tablet given to each
participant. The monitor can record the amount of physical activity (B), percentage of daily activity and sleeping
goal that have been met (C), participants can also set inactivity alerts (D).
A B C D
Fitness
Distance walked (m) in 6
minutes
Moderate Activity
Minutes of METs ≥ 3
Non-Sedentary
Behavior
Minutes of METs≥1.5
*
CONTACT INFORMATION:
409)-772-1917
ellyons@utmb.edu
zalewisp@utmb.edu