title: Healthy Steps trial: pedometer-based advice and physical activity for low-active older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the effectiveness of 2 physical activity prescriptions delivered in primary care--the standard time-based Green Prescription and a pedometer step-based Green Prescription--on physical activity, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and quality of life in low-active older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a randomized controlled trial involving 330 low-active older adults (aged =65 years) recruited through their primary care physicians' patient databases. Participants were randomized to either the pedometer step-based Green Prescription group (n = 165) or the standard Green Prescription group (n = 165). Both groups had a visit with the primary care practitioner and 3 telephone counseling sessions over 12 weeks aimed at increasing physical activity. Outcomes were the changes in physical activity (assessed with the Auckland Heart Study Physical Activity Questionnaire), blood pressure, BMI, quality of life (assessed with the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey), physical function status (assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery), and falls over a 12-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients invited to participate, 57% responded. At 12 months, leisure walking increased by 49.6 min/wk for the pedometer Green Prescription compared with 28.1 min/wk for the standard Green Prescription (P=.03). For both groups, there were significant increases across all physical activity domains at 3 months (end of intervention) that were largely maintained after 12 months of follow-up. BMI did not change in either group. Significant improvements in blood pressure were observed for both groups without any differences between them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pedometer use resulted in a greater increase in leisure walking without any impact on overall activity level. All participants increased physical activity, and on average, their blood pressure decreased over 12 months, although the clinical relevance is unknown.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. g.kolt@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kolt
authors.forename: Grant M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Ngaire
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kerse
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: Asmita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003376:Counseling; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*