Motivation seems to be the key to keeping elderly people active, and pedometers are apparently a good motivator. These are the findings of a study conducted by researchers at the University of Western Sydney, which was published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine.
The study found that pedometers could possibly encourage the elderly to mix in more physical activity in their daily schedules, and showed that the simple devices motivated wearer’s to seek exercise. Those using the devices participated in more “leisurely” walking, but also tried to complete more daily tasks via walking, such as walking to the store for groceries instead of driving there.
Pedometers are devices that count the number of steps a person takes, and can be worn at the waist to be used throughout the day or during a particular activity. Experts advise people to take 10,000 steps a day, which is equal to a 20-minute walk made up of 2,000 steps.
For those who have reduced their activity it seems a little motivation could go a long way.
Study: Healthy Steps Trial: Pedometer-Based Advice and Physical Activity for Low-Active Older Adults