title: A pedometer-based intervention to improve physical activity, fitness, and coronary heart disease risk in National Guard personnel.
abstract: To compare the effects of a pedometer-based behavioral intervention (Fitness for Life [FFL] program) and a traditional high-intensity fitness (TRAD) program on physical activity (PA), Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and coronary heart disease risk factors in Army National Guard members who failed the APFT 2-mile run. From a pool of 261 Army National Guard, a total of 156 were randomized to TRAD or FFL for 24 weeks consisting of a 12-week progressive conditioning program followed by 12 weeks of maintenance. For both groups, the total APFT score and 2-mile run time/score improved from baseline to 12 weeks (FFL: down 7.4%, p = 0.03; TRAD: down 5%, p = 0.08) but at 24 weeks they had regressed toward baseline. PA improved modestly and coronary risk profile changed minimally in both groups. A pedometer-based exercise intervention had results similar to a high-intensity program for improving PA, APFT, and 2-mile run times/score. Neither group sustained the improved run times over the 12 weeks of maintenance.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: E Jeffrey
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Metter
authors.forename: Christopher H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Jerome L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fleg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008889:Military Personnel; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*