Self-monitoring of physical activity using accelerometers and feedback is a useful method to improve physical activity in older adults who require long-term care. Kobe University research demonstrates for the first time that physical activity in this population can be increased in a simple and safe way, which could help avoid serious illness and reduce long-term care costs. This is what I did.
It is well known that walking more and sitting less often has a significant impact on a wide range of non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, orthopedic conditions, and stroke. This is particularly problematic for older adults who rely on long-term care such as day care centers. This is because they are known to take fewer steps and spend more time sitting than healthy people of the same age. The resulting increased risk of illness not only reduces the health-related quality of life of these populations, but also strains the already scarce resources of the healthcare system. It is also known that self-monitoring can improve physical activity among older adults, but the effectiveness of this approach in this high-risk population has not been shown.
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A Kobe University research team consisting of health scientists Kazuhiro Izawa and Masahiro Kitamura conducted a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of self-monitoring of physical activity among 52 long-term care patients at day care centers in Japan. We filled this gap. They educated participants on the importance of increasing physical activity and asked participants to wear accelerometers that tracked steps, time spent sitting, and activity of various intensities. The 26 participants in the intervention group were also asked to record their daily progress on a calendar and received weekly feedback and advice.
The results, now published in the journal European Geriatric Medicine, show that the intervention group took more steps, spent less time sitting, and engaged in more light physical activity. The authors conclude, “The results of an intervention to promote physical activity in this target population were novel to this study.Older adults in need of long-term care are less mobile and active than healthy older adults. “Increasing physical activity is not easy as physical activity is declining.” However, goals such as increasing your step count are easy to understand and practice, and goals such as reducing time spent sitting, such as standing or taking short walks, are activities that can be done indoors and do not require a high degree of mobility. . ”
This was the first study to include sedentary time in addition to step counts in self-monitoring, so the two may have influenced each other. Researchers from Kobe University said, “Previous studies in healthy older adults reported that a decrease in sedentary behavior led to an increase in moderate to vigorous physical activity; They are similar to some extent.” Izawa further added, “While traditional self-monitoring interventions have primarily focused on step count, this study focused on both step count and sedentary behavior. As a result, this may drive behavioral change. It is thought that he may have done so,” he added.
While this study clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of simple measures such as wearing an accelerometer, self-monitoring, and receiving feedback on physical activity progress, it does not capture the real benefits on health-related quality of life. The five-week period was too short. Dr. Izawa and Dr. Kitamura said, “The results of this study may provide an important basis for future research on promoting physical activity in older adults who need support.In particular, self-monitoring interventions contribute to improving physical activity.” Future studies should include larger samples, a broader range of activities, and Long-term follow-up must be included.”
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