title: Pedometers Affect Changes in Lower-Extremity Physical Function During a Square-Stepping Exercise Program in Older Japanese Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pedometers are often used as motivational tools to increase physical activity. Hence, providing a pedometer during an exercise intervention may enhance the benefit of exercise on lower-extremity physical function (LEPF) by maintaining or increasing daily physical activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect on LEPF between an exercise intervention with and without the use of a pedometer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects of this study were 68 community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 70.0 ± 3.6 years) in Kasama City, rural Japan. All subjects participated in a fall-prevention exercise program called square-stepping exercise (SSE) conducted once a week for 11 weeks. Participants were allocated to 2 groups: SSE with pedometer group (n = 34) and SSE without pedometer group (n = 34). We matched the participants of both groups by their standardized score of physical function tests. To ascertain the LEPF benefits induced by the exercise intervention, we measured 5 physical function tests: single-leg balance with eyes open, 5-repetition sit-to-stand, timed up and go, 5-m habitual walk, and choice stepping reaction time. We used a 2-way analysis of variance to confirm the interaction between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant group-by-time interactions were observed on timed up and go (P < .01) and 5-m habitual walk (P = .02); participants in the SSE with pedometer group enhanced their physical function more than the SSE without pedometer group participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that providing a pedometer during an exercise intervention is an effective addition to an exercise program to improve LEPF.
authors.affiliation: 1Doctoral Program in Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. 2Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan. 3Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan. 4Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. 5Master's Program in Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. 6Department of Occupational Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan. 7Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jindo
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.forename: Naruki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitano
authors.forename: Taishi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muraki
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okura
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors