readily being used by researchers and practitioners to assess and motivate physical activity behaviours. Pedometer-determined physical activity indices are needed to guide their efforts. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the rationale and evidence for general pedometer-based indices for research and practice purposes. Specifically, we evaluate popular recommendations for steps/day and attempt to translate existing physical activity guidelines into steps/day equivalents. Also, we appraise the fragmented evidence currently available from associations derived from cross-sectional studies and a limited number of interventions that have documented improvements (primarily in body composition and/or blood pressure) with increased steps/day. A value of 10 000 steps/day is gaining popularity with the media and in practice and can be traced to Japanese walking clubs and a business slogan 30+ years ago. 10 000 steps/day appears to be a reasonable estimate of daily activity for apparently healthy adults and studies are emerging documenting the health benefits of attaining similar levels. Preliminary evidence suggests that a goal of 10 000 steps/day may not be sustainable for some groups, including older adults and those living with chronic diseases. Another concern about using 10 000 steps/ day as a universal step goal is that it is probably too low for children, an important target population in the war against obesity. Other approaches to pedometer-determined physical activity recommendations that are showing promise of health benefit and individual sustainability have been based on incremental improvements relative to baseline values. Based on currently available evidence, we propose the following preliminary indices be used to classify pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults: (i) 12 500 steps/day are likely to be classified as ‘highly active’.

How many steps/day are enough? Preliminary pedometer indices for public health.

Physical activity guidelines from around the world are typically expressed in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity parameters. Objective monitoring using pedometers and accelerometers offers a new opportunity to measure and communicate physical activity in terms of steps/day. Various step-based versions or translations of physical activity guidelines are emerging, reflecting public interest in such guidance. However, there appears to be a wide discrepancy in the exact values that are being communicated. It makes sense that step-based recommendations should be harmonious with existing evidence-based public health guidelines that recognize that "some physical activity is better than none" while maintaining a focus on time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Thus, the purpose of this review was to update our existing knowledge of "How many steps/day are enough?", and to inform step-based recommendations consistent with current physical activity guidelines. Normative data indicate that healthy adults typically take between 4,000 and 18,000 steps/day, and that 10,000 steps/day is reasonable for this population, although there are notable "low active populations." Interventions demonstrate incremental increases on the order of 2,000-2,500 steps/day. The results of seven different controlled studies demonstrate that there is a strong relationship between cadence and intensity. Further, despite some inter-individual variation, 100 steps/minute represents a reasonable floor value indicative of moderate intensity walking. Multiplying this cadence by 30 minutes (i.e., typical of a daily recommendation) produces a minimum of 3,000 steps that is best used as a heuristic (i.e., guiding) value, but these steps must be taken over and above habitual activity levels to be a true expression of free-living steps/day that also includes recommendations for minimal amounts of time in MVPA. Computed steps/day translations of time in MVPA that also include estimates of habitual activity levels equate to 7,100 to 11,000 steps/day. A direct estimate of minimal amounts of MVPA accumulated in the course of objectively monitored free-living behaviour is 7,000-8,000 steps/day. A scale that spans a wide range of incremental increases in steps/day and is congruent with public health recognition that "some physical activity is better than none," yet still incorporates step-based translations of recommended amounts of time in MVPA may be useful in research and practice. The full range of users (researchers to practitioners to the general public) of objective monitoring instruments that provide step-based outputs require good reference data and evidence-based recommendations to be able to design effective health messages congruent with public health physical activity guidelines, guide behaviour change, and ultimately measure, track, and interpret steps/day.

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How many steps/day are enough? for adults

Grounded in self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), the purpose of the present study was to examine whether amotivation, self-determined and controlling types of motivation could predict a r...

/pdf/the-role-of-self-determined-motivation-in-the-understanding-1cds2tfc1l.pdf

The role of self-determined motivation in the understanding of exercise-related behaviours, cognitions and physical self-evaluations

Objective:The aim of this study was to identify promoting and inhibiting correlates associated with the physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents (aged 3–18). The intention was to demonstrate the complexity of correlates of PA and to determine possible influencing factors.Design:A systematic review of reviews.Methods:Systematic database research was carried out in Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Springer Link and Thieme Connect. Inclusion criteria were that the study: (a) was classified as a systematic review with or without meta-analysis; (b) was published between 2000 and 2009; (c) dealt with children and adolescents aged 3–18; (d) had as its dependent variable any measure of overall PA; and (e) reviewed associations between quantitatively measured variables and PA. The internal validity of the systematic reviews thus identified was evaluated using a validated quality instrument.Results:Nine systematic reviews without meta-analysis and one systematic review with meta-analysis were ...

Correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents: A systematic review of reviews

Implementing theory-based interventions is an effective way to influence physical activity (PA) behaviour in the population. This meta-analysis aimed to (1) determine the global effect of theory-based randomised controlled trials dedicated to the promotion of PA among adults, (2) measure the actual efficacy of interventions against their theoretical objectives and (3) compare the efficacy of single- versus combined-theory interventions. A systematic search through databases and review articles was carried out. Our results show that theory-based interventions (k = 82) significantly impact the PA behaviour of participants (d = 0.31, 95% CI [0.24, 0.37]). While moderation analyses revealed no efficacy difference between theories, interventions based on a single theory (d = 0.35; 95% CI [0.26, 0.43]) reported a higher impact on PA behaviour than those based on a combination of theories (d = 0.21; 95% CI [0.11, 0.32]). In spite of the global positive effect of theory-based interventions on PA behaviour, further research is required to better identify the specificities, overlaps or complementarities of the components of interventions based on relevant theories.

Efficacy of theory-based interventions to promote physical activity. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Motivating People to Be Physically Active addresses a topic of critical im- portance in modern society—assisting diverse segments of the population to in- crease their ongoing levels of physical activity to establish optimal levels of health. As emphasized by The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001), increasing physical activity is a topic of crucial importance in developed nations. An overall goal of the authors is to facilitate the reader's work in helping people to be physically active. Exercise behavior is an integral part of health promotion and disease prevention. This practical handbook is written for exercise and health professionals who direct physical activity programs. The book also is of value to researchers, espe- cially for those who have little background in the stage theory of motivation. Re- searchers who are interested in exploring exercise factors related to stage theory will find practical introductory information. Motivating People to Be Physically Active is a compact, easy-to-read book and is almost exclusively based on the stage model of exercise promotion. This focus is a simultaneous strength and a weakness. The single model is a strength because it enables the authors to provide a focused examination of the multiple roles of the stages model in exercise settings. It is a weakness, however, because uninformed readers will need to read additional books such as McElroy's (2002) Resistance to Exercise: A Social Analysis of Inactivity and Kimiecik's (2002) The Intrinsic Exerciser: Discovering the Joy of Exercise. Additional sources such as these are needed to provide insights into the complex exercise dilemma of so many benefits, so few participants. The book easily fulfills its stated purpose of translating stage theory and concepts from behavioral science research into a handbook that is useful for per- sonal trainers, employees at health clubs, and other health/exercise professionals. The 11 chapters range in length between 6 and 12 pages of text. The chapters are brief and yet are complete enough to introduce readers to basic concepts and prin- ciples and to provide useful questionnaires for promoting physical activity. The later chapters also provide guidelines for applying the stages model of motiva- tional readiness in a multitude of exercise settings. As emphasized throughout Motivating People, the stages model of motiva- tional readiness for change includes five well-established stages through which participants in physical activity proceed. The nonsequential stages that the authors describe are the (a) \"inactive and not thinking about becoming physically active\

B. Jane Freure

Papers

Motivating People to Be Physically Active

Epidemiology of Sports Injuries

Clinical Guide to Sports InjuriesRoald Bahr, Sverre Maehlum, Editors