Impact of Using a Pedometer on Time Spent Walking in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of using a pedometer on time spent walking, in sedentary and overweight adults with type 2 diabetes participating in a coaching intervention. It was hypothesized that participants using a pedometer would spend more time walking than would nonpedometer participants.

Method: A sample of 57 men and women with a mean age of 62 years participated in a randomized controlled trial in a community setting. Participants were allocated to either a pedometer and coaching (intervention) group or a coaching-only (control) group. Coaching for both groups involved education, goal setting, and supportive/motivational strategies to increase time spent walking. The duration of the study was 6 months, with blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, anthropometric, and fitness measurements assessed at baseline and at 3-month intervals.

Results: A repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated that the coaching-only group spent significantly more time walking than did the pedometer group. However, when an analysis of covariance with all the other variables as covariates was performed, group membership had no influence on time spent walking. Significant reductions in waist circumference and weight were achieved for both groups from baseline to 6 months. Cardiovascular fitness also increased significantly for both groups.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated that previously sedentary older adults with type 2 diabetes, supported with a coaching intervention, were able to achieve the physical activity targets known to be beneficial to health. However, using a pedometer added no further benefit. Further research on the impact of specific coaching strategies in diabetes management is warranted.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bassett D

Ainsworth B

Leggett S

et al.

Accuracy of five electronic pedometers for measuring distance walked. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 1996;28:1071-1077.

Freedson P

Miller S

. Objective monitoring of physical activity using motion sensors and heart rate. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2000;71:21-29.

Brown W

Mummery K

Eakin E

Trost S

Schofield G

Abernethy P

. 10,000 steps Rockhampton: attacking waistlines through increasing steps. Food Chain. Newsletter of the Strategic Intergovernmental Nutrition Alliance. 11, April 2003. Available at www.cihrirsc.gc.ca/e/institutes/inmd/18058.shtml.

Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes

. Request for participation in Canada on the Move: step one. 2003. Available at http//www.cihrirsc.gc.ca/e/institutes/inmd/18058.shtml.

Sidman C

Corbin C

La Masurier G

. Promoting physical activity among sedentary women using pedometers. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2004;75:122-129.

Eastep E

Beveridge S

Eisenman P

Ransdell L

Shultz B

. Does augmented feedback from pedometers increase adults’ walking behaviour? Percept Mot Skills. 2004;99:392-402.

Yamanouchi K

Shinozaki T

Chikadaz K

et al.

Daily walking combined with diet therapy is a useful means for obese NIDDM patients not only to reduce body weight but also to improve insulin sensitivity. Diabetes Care. 1995;18:775-778.

Tudor-Locke C

Myers A

Bell R

Harris S

Rodger W

. Preliminary outcome evaluation of the First Step Program: a daily physical activity intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Patient Educ Couns. 2002;47:23-28.

Lindner H

Menzies D

Kelly J

Taylor S

Shearer M

. Coaching for behaviour change in chronic disease: a review of the literature and the implications for coaching as a self-management intervention. Aust J Prim Health. 2003;9:177-185.

10.

Zeus P

Skiffington S

. The Coaching at Work Toolkit. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2002.

11.

Joseph DH

Griffin M

Hall R

Sullivan E

. Peer coaching: an intervention for individuals struggling with diabetes. Diabetes Educ. 2001;27:703-710.

12.

Vale M

Jelinek M

Grigg L

Newman R

. Coaching patients on achieving cardiovascular health (COACH). Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2775-2783.

13.

Tudor-Locke C

Myers A

Rodger N

. Development of a theory-based daily activity intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educ. 2001;27:85-93.

14.

Singh S

Morgan M

Scott S

Walters D

Hardman A

. Development of a shuttle walking test of disability in patients with chronic airways obstruction. Thorax. 1992;47:1019-1024.

15.

Murphy M

Nevill A

Neville C

Biddle C

Hardman A

. Accumulating brisk walking for fitness, cardiovascular risk and psychological health. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;34:1468-1474.

16.

Wing R

Goldstein M

Acton K

et al.

Behavioral science research in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2001;24:117-123.

17.

Dunstan D

Zimmet P

Welborn T

et al.

Diabesity and Associated Disorders in Australia-2000 (Aus-Diab). Melbourne, Australia: International Diabetes Institute; 2001.

18.

Walker K

Piers L

Putt R

Jones A

O’Dea K

. Effects of regular walking on cardiovascular risk factors and body composition in normoglycaemic women and women with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1999;22:555-561.

19.

Kilpatrick E

Maylor P

Keevil B

. Biological variation of glycated hemoglobin. Diabetes Care. 1998;21:261-264.

20.

United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Group

. UK Prospective diabetes study 33: intensive blood glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. Lancet. 1998;352:837-853.

21.

Welk G

, ed. Physical Activity Assessments for Health-Related Research. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics; 2002.