Keeping older adults active: Are activity trackers effective?

Introduction & Aims: Despite the significant number of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation, Australian older adults are largely inactive. As such, greater support is required to assist older adults to maintain physical activity levels. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a wearable activity tracker (AT) combined with tailored feedback from an Accredited Exercise Physiologist via text message, compared to telephone counselling (TC) and usual care (UC) on physical activity maintenance following a structured lifestyle intervention. Methods: 117 participants were recruited from a 12-week structured lifestyle intervention and were randomised to receive either AT (n=37), TC (n=38) or UC (n=42) for 12-months from the conclusion of the lifestyle intervention. The primary outcome measure was daily steps measured by an ActivPAL accelerometer measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included body composition, blood pressure and functional strength. Results: Participants were 72.4 ± 6.4 years and predominantly female (64%). Both the AT and TC groups maintained daily step count and lean mass throughout the 12-month intervention while UC showed a significant reduction in both daily steps and lean mass at 12-months (MD; -981 steps, 95%CI; -1668 steps to -294 steps, p>0.01, MD; 1.13 kg, 95%CI; -2.26 kg to 0.01 kg, p=0.05 respectively). Conclusion: Both a wearable activity tracker and telephone counselling are effective at maintaining daily step count and lean mass in older adults over a 12-month period. A wearable activity tracker may provide an effective alternative to telephone counselling which is the current gold standard for providing ongoing support. Through connected healthcare technologies, activity trackers can provide health professionals with objectively measured physical activity