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Self-monitoring of physical activity using accelerometers and feedback is a useful method for improving physical activity in older adults who require long-term care. The Kobe University study is the first to demonstrate that the physical activity of this demographic can be increased using simple and safe methods, which is likely to help avoid serious illness and cut long-term care expenses.
Taking more steps and sitting less is known to have a significant impact on a wide range of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, orthopedic diseases and stroke. This is particularly problematic in seniors who rely on long-term care such as day-care centers, as they are known to take fewer steps and spend more time sitting than healthy people of the same age. The resulting higher risk of falling ill not only reduces health-related quality of life in these people, but it also strains already scarce resources in health care systems. And while it is known that self-monitoring can improve physical activity even in the elderly, the effectiveness of this approach has not been shown for this high-risk demographic.
Also read: Positive attitudes toward physical activity may be linked to less anxiety about aging: Research
The Kobe University research team of health scientists Izawa Kazuhiro and Kitamura Masahiro filled this gap by conducting a comparative analysis with 52 long-term care patients at a day care center in Japan on the effectiveness of self-monitoring of physical activity. They educated participants about the importance of increasing physical activity and asked participants to wear an accelerometer that recorded steps, sitting time, and activity of various intensities. The 26 participants in the intervention group were additionally asked to record their progress in a calendar daily and received weekly feedback and advice.
The results, now published in the European Geriatric Medicine Journal, show that the intervention group took more steps, spent less time sitting and engaged in more light physical activity. The authors write, “The results of an intervention promoting physical activity in this target population were new to this study. Older people requiring long-term care have reduced mobility and activity compared to healthy older people, so physical activity Increasing is not easy. However, goals such as increasing the number of steps taken are easily understood and practiced, and reducing time spent in sedentary behavior, such as standing or walking for short periods of time, are activities that can be done indoors. Can be carried and does not require high mobility.”
Since this was the first study that included not only self-monitoring measures but also time spent sitting, it’s possible that the two may have influenced each other. “A previous study in healthy older people reported that moderate to vigorous physical activity increased when sedentary behavior was reduced, which is somewhat similar to the findings of the current study,” explains the Kobe University researchers. Izawa says, “While traditional self-monitoring interventions have focused primarily on the number of steps taken, this study focused on both steps taken and sedentary behavior. As a result, we believe “That this may have helped change their behavior.”
While this study clearly shows the effectiveness of simple measures like wearing an accelerometer, self-monitoring, and getting feedback on one’s progress on physical activity, it will take a five-week follow-up to achieve real benefits on health-related quality of life. The duration was very short. Izawa and Kitamura say, “The results of this study can serve as an important foundation for future research on promoting physical activity among older adults who need assistance. In particular, self-monitoring interventions have been shown to contribute to improved physical activity and can be applied to care prevention strategies. Future studies should include larger samples, a wider range of activities, and long-term follow-up to verify the continued effectiveness of the intervention.
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