Amount Of Daily Walking Research Articles

Feasibility and Proof-of-Concept of Delivering an Autonomous Music-Based Digital Walking Intervention to Persons with Parkinson's Disease in a Naturalistic Setting.

Reduced motor automaticity in Parkinson's disease (PD) negatively impacts the quality, intensity, and amount of daily walking. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), a clinical intervention shown to improve walking outcomes, has been limited by barriers associated with the need for ongoing clinician input. To assess the feasibility, proof-of-concept, and preliminary clinical outcomes associated with delivering an autonomous music-based digital walking intervention based on RAS principles to persons with PD in a naturalistic setting. Twenty-three persons with PD used the digital intervention independently for four weeks to complete five weekly 30-minute sessions of unsupervised, overground walking with music-based cues. The intervention progressed autonomously according to real-time gait sensing. Feasibility of independent use was assessed by examining participant adherence, safety, and experience. Intervention proof-of-concept was assessed by examining spatiotemporal metrics of gait quality, daily minutes of moderate intensity walking, and daily steps. Preliminary clinical outcomes were assessed following intervention completion. Participants completed 86.4% of sessions and 131.1% of the prescribed session duration. No adverse events were reported. Gait speed, stride length, and cadence increased within sessions, and gait variability decreased (p < 0.05). Compared to baseline, increased daily moderate intensity walking (mean Δ= +21.44 minutes) and steps (mean Δ= +3,484 steps) occurred on designated intervention days (p < 0.05). Quality of life, disease severity, walking endurance, and functional mobility were improved after four weeks (p < 0.05). Study findings supported the feasibility and potential clinical utility of delivering an autonomous digital walking intervention to persons with PD in a naturalistic setting.

Self-assessed foot health in older people with rheumatoid arthritis-A cross-sectional study.

Foot and ankle problems are especially common in patients with RA, causing significant disability and limitation in daily activities. Previous studies have mainly focussed on foot problems in the adult population whilst the evidence of foot health in the older population is scarce. The aim of the study was to analyse self-assessed foot health and associated factors in older people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study applied a descriptive cross-sectional survey design and recruited older people with RA from the member register of one patient association. We collected the data in January 2019 with the Self-administered Foot Health Assessment Instrument, and sociodemographic and foot-related background questions and analysed the data with descriptive and inferential statistics. Older people with RA had many self-reported foot problems. The most common problems were foot pain, dry skin and thickened toenails. In addition, structural deformities of the foot were prevalent. The level of foot health associated with the amount of daily walking or standing, and using walking or running shoes outdoors. Individuals who had consulted a physician due to their foot problems had more structural deformities in the foot. Foot problems limited their ability to perform daily activities. This study demonstrates that older people with RA not only live with a long-term health condition, but they also live with complex foot problems. Older people with RA need healthcare services due to their foot problems. There is a need to develop and implement care practices to alleviate foot pain and support and promote foot health and functional ability in older people with RA. Understanding the nature and consequences of foot problems in older people with RA allows healthcare professionals to perform more accurate clinical foot evaluations and develop effective interventions to prevent further foot problems.

The effect of daily walking steps on preventing neck and low back pain in sedentary workers: A 1-year prospective cohort study

The association between physical inactivity and several non-communicable diseases, including type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, is well established.1 A large scale population-based study suggests a similar association between physical inactivity and chronic musculoskeletal disorders.2 However, recent systematic reviews suggest that the link with back and neck pain may be less clear-cut, and indicate a need for more research in this area.3,4 Sitthipornvorakul et al.,5 suggest that previous research has been too broadly focused, arguing that the effects of physical activity are unlikely to be the same across a broad population with disparate occupational demands. Therefore, using a prospective cohort study Sitthipornvorakul et al.,5 investigated the relationship between the incidence of low back/neck pain and amount of daily walking, specifically focusing on sedentary workers.

Developmental origins of self-reported arthritis and osteoarthritis: new england family study

focused primarily on walking behavior. Daily step count recording with a pedometer offers a low cost convenient method of quantifying the amount of walking-related physical activity. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of psychological factors in determining average daily step count among people with painful knee OA. Methods: Our sample consisted of 166 people with painful knee OA: aged >1⁄4 50 years, visual analogue scale for pain >1⁄4 40/100, radiographic Kellgren & Lawrence grade >1⁄4 2, and Western Ontario & McMaster Physical Function (WOMAC PF) >1⁄4 25. A multiple regression analysis was carried out with average daily step count recorded over 7 days using a pedometer as the dependent variable. Psychological variables were entered as independent variables after entering age, body mass index, pain (WOMAC pain score), and physical function (WOMAC PF score) as covariates. These demographic variables are known to be associated with physical activity in knee OA. Psychological variables included the subscales of the Depression, Anxiety & Stress (DASS) scale (Depression, Anxiety and Stress), Arthritis Self-Efficacy scale (pain, function and other), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Rumination, Magnification and Helplessness) and Attitudes to Physical Activity Scale (Self-efficacy, barriers and benefits). Results: DASS Stress subscale accounted for 6% of the variance in step count after accounting for the covariates (15% of variance) and was the only significant psychological contributor (b 1⁄4 -0.25, SE 1⁄4 52.3, p < 0.05). Higher levels of stress were associated with lower daily step counts. Conclusion: After controlling for demographic and symptomatic variables, only stress was associated with average daily step count. Our findings are consistent with previous studies showing no associations between depression or anxiety and physical activity levels of people with knee OA. The findings indicate that stress may be an important psychological factor that needs to be addressed in order for people with knee OA to increase their amount of daily walking as a means to becoming more physically active.

Foot impairments and limitations in walking activities in people affected by leprosy

To explore the relationships between perceived limitations in walking-related daily activities, walking ability (capacity), and the amount of daily walking (performance) in persons affected by leprosy and to identify their determinants. A cross-sectional study. Thirty-nine persons affected by leprosy. Perceived limitations were assessed with the World Health Organization Disability Schedule II, domain "getting around". Walking capacity was assessed as covered distance in 6 min. Walking performance was recorded as mean strides/day with the Stepwatch(TM) 3 Activity Monitor. Potential determinants were sensory function, foot deformities, joint mobility, ankle muscle strength and co-morbidity. Perceived limitations in walking-related activities were significantly correlated with walking capacity (r = -0.47; p < 0.01) but not with walking performance, although walking capacity significantly correlated with walking performance (r = 0.38; p < 0.05). Various foot impairments independently contributed to reduced walking capacity and, to a lower degree, to perceived limitations in activities and performance. People affected by leprosy perceive limitations in walking-related activities that are determined by a reduced walking ability and the severity of foot impairments. Since perceived limitations in walking-related activities were not related to walking performance, perceived limitations are apparently weighted against the individual's needs.

The Effect of Objectively Measured Crime on Walking in Minority Adults

Evaluate the relationship between neighborhood crime and the amount of daily walking by minority adults. This was a cross-sectional study of minority adult walking behavior and crime. Setting. Oakland, California was chosen as the study area because of the substantial spatial variation in levels of criminal activity combined with detailed information on walking trips. The study was restricted to minority adults who responded to the 2000 Bay Area Travel Survey and lived in Oakland, California (n = 359). Data on leisure and utilitarian walking were collected through the 2000 Bay Area Travel Survey and combined with crime data from the Oakland Police Department. A negative binomial model was used to test if violent, property, or quality of life crimes had significant associations with daily minutes walked, controlling for individual and neighborhood covariates. The model showed a significant negative association between violent crime and minutes walked per day (b = -.07; p = .016). Neither property nor quality of life crimes were correlated with amount of walking. Reductions in violent crime may increase opportunities for minority residents in urban areas to participate in physical activity such as walking, thereby providing another reason to pursue anticrime measures. Urban designers' efforts to increase physical activity by improving neighborhood walkability may consider violent crime prevention in their designs.

An exploration of walking activity among older psychiatric inpatients

Physical activity can lead to a longer life expectancy and is associated with preserved independence and quality of life (QOL). The health consequences of being physically inactive for older adults include depression, decreased mobility and decreased QOL. Despite this, recent observational studies of older adults' activity levels have highlighted that older adults in care are remaining sedentary. The aim of the study was to audit the walking activity levels of 53 older adult psychiatric in-patients before and after a health promotion activity which advocated the benefits of walking. Each patient wore a pedometer for three consecutive days. At baseline, only 21% (11/53) were walking the daily amount recommended for older adults. After the intervention this increased to 32%, (15/47) although a total of 33 (70%) patients increased the amount of daily walking (P = 0.002). This study identified that most older adults in the sample did not walk enough to gain the health benefi ts associated with walking. However, there was an encouraging increase in the amount of walking older adults did following some health promotion activity, which warrants further investigation.