Impact of Activity Tracker Usage in Combination with a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical and Cognitive Parameters in Healthy Adults Aged 60+: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Tina Auerswald, Anna Hendker, Tiara Ratz, Sonia Lippke, Claudia R. Pischke, Manuela Peters, Jochen Meyer, Kai von Holdt and Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
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Tina Auerswald: Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
Anna Hendker: Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
Tiara Ratz: Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Sonia Lippke: Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Claudia R. Pischke: Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
Manuela Peters: Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Jochen Meyer: OFFIS–Institute for Information Technology, 26121 Oldenburg, Germany
Kai von Holdt: OFFIS–Institute for Information Technology, 26121 Oldenburg, Germany
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage: Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Regular physical activity (PA) is of central importance for healthy aging and has a well-known impact on helping older adults maintain their cognitive and physical health. Thus, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two physical activity interventions primarily conducted at home (print-based or web-based vs. web-based plus the use of an activity tracker) on cognitive and physical health parameters in older adults. Data of participants ( n = 551, 60–80 years) were analyzed after being randomly allocated to a waitlist control group (CG), a web-based or print-based intervention group (IG) or a web-based intervention group that also included the use of an activity tracker (AG). Measured parameters were grip strength, endurance (two-minute step test), gait speed (four-meter walk test), cognition (Simon task; balanced integration score (BIS), reaction time and accuracy) and physical self-concept (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ)). We found the highest effect sizes in all measured dimensions for AG (grip strength, endurance, gait speed, reaction time, physical self-concept), followed by IG (endurance, gait speed, reaction time, physical self-concept) and CG (endurance, gait speed, BIS). Findings suggest that a combined web-based and activity tracker intervention may improve physical functions, physical self-concept, and cognition in community-dwelling older adults.

Keywords: older adults; activity tracker; steps; exercise; cognition; home-based interventions; Simon task (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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