Logo image
Back
Can pedometers be used to prescribe walking intensity in older adults?
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Can pedometers be used to prescribe walking intensity in older adults?

Christopher D Askew, Freya Schroeder, T Vogt and Stefan Schneider
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.12(Supplement 2), p.e125
Australia Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 7th National Physical Activity Conference, 6th National Sports Injury Prevention Conference, Be Active '09, 2009 (Brisbane, Australia, 14-Oct-2009–17-Oct-2009)
2010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.259
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.259View
Published Version

Abstract

Human Movement and Sports Science older adults walking pedometers
Introduction: Pedometers are commonly used to count accumulated steps while walking and thereby provide a measure of exercise volume. The benefits of exercise and physical activity are also determined by the intensity of exercise, and most physical activity guidelines now include specific recommendations about exercise intensity. This study aimed to determine whether older adults are able to monitor and adhere to a prescribed walking step rate (steps per minute) using a pedometer.Methods: Forty subjects (20 male and 20 female) aged 55-75 years participated in the study. Subjects visited the testing venue on four occasions, each separated by at least 72 h, to undertake a series of walking tests on an outdoor athletics track. The first walking test was a three-stage "calibration test" where subjects initially walked 800 m at their self selected pace (SS) to determine average heart rate (SS-HR). After a 2-min rest, this was followed by an 800 m walk at a higher pace (HI) where the target heart rate was SS-HR plus 10 bpm, and then a low paced walk (LO) at a target heart rate of SS-HR minus 10 bpm. Steps completed, average walking speed (distance /time), average step rate (number of steps /time), and average heart rate were measured at each pace. During each of the next three visits, subjects completed a 1400 m pedometer-paced walk at either the LO, HI or SS pace, in a random order. Walking pace was governed by the respective step rate determined during the calibration test. Subjects wore a pedometer and were given a hand-held card that listed the total number of steps that were to be accumulated after each minute during the walk. Comparisons were made between LO, HI and SS pedometer-paced walks and the respective stages of the calibration test using repeated measures analysis of variance.Results/conclusion: Average step rate, walking speed and heart rate increased with walking pace and were significantly different between the LO, HI and SS walking intensities. There was no difference in step rate between the pedometer-paced walks and the respective stages of the calibration test, indicating that subjects were able to maintain the prescribed step rate. Despite this, average walking speed was higher during the pedometer-paced walks than during the calibration test, and this difference was consistent (7%) across all walking intensities. Heart rate during the LO pedometer paced walk was lower than during the calibration test, but this difference was not evident at the SS and HI walking intensities. These data indicate that older adults are able to maintain a prescribed step rate using a pedometer; however it does not seem likely that walking speed and physiological responses can be accurately predicted during pedometer-paced walking.

Details

Metrics

2 File views/ downloads
651 Record Views
Logo image