[Recommendation of using a registering type GPS and a heart rate monitor for walking instructions in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of exercise for health promotion depends on the protocol. We examined the possibility of determining the characteristics of walking (route, speed and work intensity) with a registering type GPS and a heart rate monitor. We also demonstrated the effects of giving a walking regimen utilizing the data on characteristics of walking.


METHODS
Route, speed, and heart rate during the walking of 24 elderly habitual walkers were estimated with a memory-type GPS apparatus and a heart rate monitor, respectively. The elderly were instructed to modify the route and/or speed of walking according to the data.


RESULTS
1) The walking speeds for male and female subjects increased from 91.8 +/- 12.8 m/min to 97.3 +/- 12.2 m/min and 81.4 +/- 9.7 m/min to 85.6 +/- 7.0 m/min, respectively (P<0.05). 2) The average work intensity estimated by% HRR during the walking increased from 37.0 +/- 10.5% to 48.6 +/- 8.9% and 34.9 +/- 13.4% to 47.7 +/- 8.8%, respectively (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Utilization of a GPS apparatus and a heart rate monitor is effective in determining characteristics of walking and facilitates giving effective instructions for health promotion to the elderly with a habit of walking.
Takaishi
Tetsuo
T
Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Nagoya City University.
Yamada
Yoshie
Y
Tanaka
Tsutomu
T
Kanewaka
Miyuki
M
Yanagisawa
Hisayo
H
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D055656:Prescriptions; D016138:Walking