scholarly journals Smartphone App with an Accelerometer Enhances Patients’ Physical Activity Following Elective Orthopedic Surgery: A Pilot Study

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 4317
Author(s):  
Hanneke C. van Dijk-Huisman ◽  
Anouk T.R. Weemaes ◽  
Tim A.E.J. Boymans ◽  
Antoine F. Lenssen ◽  
Rob A. de Bie
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Orthopedic Surgery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group

Low physical activity (PA) levels are common in hospitalized patients. Digital health tools could be valuable in preventing the negative effects of inactivity. We therefore developed Hospital Fit; which is a smartphone application with an accelerometer, designed for hospitalized patients. It enables objective activity monitoring and provides patients with insights into their recovery progress and offers a tailored exercise program. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Hospital Fit to enhance PA levels and functional recovery following orthopedic surgery. PA was measured with an accelerometer postoperatively until discharge. The control group received standard physiotherapy, while the intervention group used Hospital Fit in addition to physiotherapy. The time spent active and functional recovery (modified Iowa Level of Assistance Scale) on postoperative day one (POD1) were measured. Ninety-seven patients undergoing total knee or hip arthroplasty were recruited. Hospital Fit use, corrected for age, resulted in patients standing and walking on POD1 for an average increase of 28.43 min (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.55–51.32). The odds of achieving functional recovery on POD1, corrected for the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, were 3.08 times higher (95% CI: 1.14–8.31) with Hospital Fit use. A smartphone app combined with an accelerometer demonstrates the potential to enhance patients’ PA levels and functional recovery during hospitalization.

A 6-Month Randomized Trial of a Smartphone Application, UControlDrink, in Aiding Recovery in Alcohol Use Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Conor Farren ◽  
Aoife Farrell ◽  
Aisling Hagerty ◽  
Cliodhna McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group

<b><i>Background and Aims:</i></b> Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a substantial problem, causing early death and great economic burden. Research has highlighted the potential positive impact of technological interventions, such as smartphone applications (app) in treatment of AUD. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a smartphone app, incorporating computerized cognitive behavioural therapy and text messaging support, on alcohol outcomes over 6 months in a post-rehabilitation setting. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 111 participants with AUD were recruited into this randomized controlled trial, following completion of a 30-day rehabilitation programme. The intervention group (<i>n</i> = 54) used the smartphone app “UControlDrink” (UCD) over 6 months with treatment as usual (TAU), and the control group (<i>n</i> = 57) received TAU. All subjects suffered from AUD as the primary disorder, with other major psychiatric disorders excluded. All intervention subjects used the UCD smartphone app in the treatment trial, and all subjects underwent TAU consisting of outpatient weekly support groups. Drinking history in the previous 90 days was measured at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Additional measurements were made to assess mood, anxiety, craving, and motivation. Results were analysed using intention-to-treat analyses. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Retention in the study was 72% at 3 months and 52% at 6 months. There was a significant reduction in heavy drinking days in the intervention group relative to TAU over the 6 months, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.02. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The UCD smartphone app demonstrates a significant benefit to reducing heavy drinking days over a 6-month post-rehabilitation period in AUD.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Smartphone App to Promote Healthy Weight Gain, Diet, and Physical Activity During Pregnancy (HealthyMoms): Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/26091 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e26091
Author(s):  
Johanna Sandborg ◽  
Emmie Söderström ◽  
Pontus Henriksson ◽  
Marcus Bendtsen ◽  
Maria Henström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Fatness

Background Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy is a major public health concern associated with negative health outcomes for both mother and child. Scalable interventions are needed, and digital interventions have the potential to reach many women and promote healthy GWG. Most previous studies of digital interventions have been small pilot studies or have not included women from all BMI categories. We therefore examined the effectiveness of a smartphone app in a large sample (n=305) covering all BMI categories. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month intervention (the HealthyMoms app) on GWG, body fatness, dietary habits, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), glycemia, and insulin resistance in comparison to standard maternity care. Methods A 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. Women in early pregnancy at maternity clinics in Östergötland, Sweden, were recruited. Eligible women who provided written informed consent completed baseline measures, before being randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention (n=152) or control group (n=153). The control group received standard maternity care while the intervention group received the HealthyMoms smartphone app for 6 months (which includes multiple features, eg, information; push notifications; self-monitoring; and feedback features for GWG, diet, and physical activity) in addition to standard care. Outcome measures were assessed at Linköping University Hospital at baseline (mean 13.9 [SD 0.7] gestational weeks) and follow-up (mean 36.4 [SD 0.4] gestational weeks). The primary outcome was GWG and secondary outcomes were body fatness (Bod Pod), dietary habits (Swedish Healthy Eating Index) using the web-based 3-day dietary record Riksmaten FLEX, MVPA using the ActiGraph wGT3x-BT accelerometer, glycemia, and insulin resistance. Results Overall, we found no statistically significant effect on GWG (P=.62); however, the data indicate that the effect of the intervention differed by pre-pregnancy BMI, as women with overweight and obesity before pregnancy gained less weight in the intervention group as compared with the control group in the imputed analyses (–1.33 kg; 95% CI –2.92 to 0.26; P=.10) and completers-only analyses (–1.67 kg; 95% CI –3.26 to –0.09; P=.031]). Bayesian analyses showed that there was a 99% probability of any intervention effect on GWG among women with overweight and obesity, and an 81% probability that this effect was over 1 kg. The intervention group had higher scores for the Swedish Healthy Eating Index at follow-up than the control group (0.27; 95% CI 0.05-0.50; P=.017). We observed no statistically significant differences in body fatness, MVPA, glycemia, and insulin resistance between the intervention and control group at follow up (P≥.21). Conclusions Although we found no overall effect on GWG, our results demonstrate the potential of a smartphone app (HealthyMoms) to promote healthy dietary behaviors as well as to decrease weight gain during pregnancy in women with overweight and obesity. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03298555; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03298555 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/13011

scholarly journals Controlled Evaluation of a Physical Activity Intervention for Senior School Students: Effects of the Lifetime Activity Program

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lubans ◽  
Kathy Sylva
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Significant Group

This study describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a structured physical activity intervention designed for high school students (years 11 and 12). A sample of 78 students was randomly allocated to control or intervention conditions for a period of ten weeks. Students in the control group (n = 40) participated in unstructured physical activity in a health and fitness center. Students in the intervention group (n = 38) participated in a ten-week structured health and exercise program based on Banduraʼs social learning theories. At the initial posttest, a number of statistically significant group differences were found using analysis of covariance. The intervention group reported more physical activity and improved exercise self-efficacy in comparison to the control group. At the 3-month follow-up, no statistically significant differences in physical activity were found. Results from this study suggest that a well-organized exercise-based program can be effective in increasing physical activity behavior of adolescents on a short-term basis.

scholarly journals Effect of Motivation by “Instagram” on Adherence to Physical Activity among Female College Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Einas Al-Eisa ◽  
Asma Al-Rushud ◽  
Ahmad Alghadir ◽  
Shahnawaz Anwer ◽  
Bashayer Al-Harbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
College Students ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Female College Students ◽  
Home Exercise ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Home Exercise Program ◽  
Female College ◽  
Activity Program

Objective.To investigate the efficacy of using “Instagram application” with a “home-exercise program” as a motivational stimulus in improving physical activity (PA) adherence levels among female college students.Methods.Fifty-eight female undergraduate students with the mean age20.3±0.96years participated. Participants were divided into two groups: intervention and the control group; both the groups received an exercise program and the intervention group was additionally motivated by “Instagram.” Adherence to PA was measured by using an adherence sheet. The Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2) was used to assess the motivational factors.Results.The most frequent motivational factors were extrinsic as assessed using the EMI-2. “Positive health” was the most frequent factor mentioned of the two types with 47% of the sample. The intervention group adhered with 17% more to the activity program compared to the control group. Moreover, 72% of the participants in the intervention and control groups found the activity program flexible enough to be performed at home; they agreed about its effectiveness on adherence (53%).Conclusions.The use of Instagram with the home exercise program as a motivational modality could be attractive and effective to reinforce adherence and maintain an appropriate PA level.

scholarly journals Effect of accelerometer-based feedback on physical activity in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1047-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Kanai ◽  
Kazuhiro P Izawa ◽  
Miki Kobayashi ◽  
Akira Onishi ◽  
Hiroki Kubo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Baseline Measurement ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Objective: To evaluate the effect of accelerometer-based feedback on physical activity in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Acute care hospital. Subjects: A total of 55 patients with ischemic stroke who could walk without assistance were randomly assigned to the intervention group ( n = 27) or the control group ( n = 28). Interventions: At the baseline measurement, patients did not receive accelerometer-based feedback. At follow-up, a physical therapist provided instruction on accelerometer-based feedback, discussed physical activity targets and encouraged the patients to walk more until discharge. Main measures: The average daily number of steps taken was used as the index of daily hospitalized physical activity. Results: The study sample consisted of 48 patients, of whom 23 patients comprised the intervention group and 25 patients comprised the control group. Although there were no significant differences in physical activity values between the two groups at the baseline measurement, the values in the intervention group at follow-up were significantly higher than those in the control group (5180.5 ± 2314.9 vs. 3113.6 ± 1150.9 steps/day, P = 0.0003). The effect size of physical activity values (Cohen’s d = 1.15) at follow-up was large between the two groups. Conclusion: Exercise training combined with accelerometer-based feedback effectively increased physical activity in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of an Exercise Program for Persons with Total Hip or Total Knee Replacement: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6732
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Barone ◽  
Raffaele Zinno ◽  
Erika Pinelli ◽  
Francesco Benvenuti ◽  
Laura Bragonzoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Total Knee

Total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) are among the most common elective surgical procedures. There is a large consensus on the importance of physical activity promotion for an active lifestyle in persons who underwent THR or TKR to prevent or mitigate disability and improve the quality of life (QoL) in the long term. However, there is no best practice in exercise and physical activity specifically designed for these persons. The present protocol aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an exercise program (6 month duration) designed for improving quality of life in people who had undergone THR or TKR. This paper describes a randomized controlled trial protocol that involves persons with THR or TKR. The participant will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will perform post-rehabilitation supervised training; the control group will be requested to follow the usual care. The primary outcome is QoL, measured with the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36); Secondary outcomes are clinical, functional and lifestyle measures that may influence QoL. The results of this study could provide evidence for clinicians, exercise trainers, and policymakers toward a strategy that ensures safe and effective exercise physical activity after surgery.

scholarly journals The effects of a physical activity intervention based on a fatness and fitness smartphone app for University students

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822098727
Author(s):  
Adrià Muntaner-Mas ◽  
Victor A Sanchez-Azanza ◽  
Francisco B Ortega ◽  
Josep Vidal-Conti ◽  
Pere Antoni Borràs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
University Students ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Since the 2012 Lancet Series on physical activity, progress regarding this topic has been negligible at global level. Thus, improving physical activity levels in specific populations through new methodologies is positioned as a priority. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a physical activity intervention on body fatness composition, and measured and self-reported physical fitness components based on the use of a smartphone app. The investigation included 100 Spanish university students, cluster-randomized into the smartphone app intervention group or a control group ( n = 35 and n = 31 respectively, after applying exclusion criteria). The physical activity intervention comprised a 9-week programme designed to promote a healthy physical activity pattern using a smartphone app. Specifically, an mHealth approach was taken containing five BCTs. The results showed that the intervention group improved their physical fitness ( F = 8.1, p = .006) and reported better general scores in self-reported physical fitness ( F = 7.4, p = .008) over time, in comparison to the control group. However, the intervention group did not show any changes to their fatness. Further research is needed to disentangle which BCTs are more effective to achieve physical health improvements when using physical activity apps.

scholarly journals Feasibility of a smartphone app to enhance physical activity in progressive MS: a pilot randomized controlled pilot trial over three months

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9303
Author(s):  
Navina N. Nasseri ◽  
Eghbal Ghezelbash ◽  
Yuyang Zhai ◽  
Stefan Patra ◽  
Karin Riemann-Lorenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Activity Monitor ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background People with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (CPMS) have limited options in medical treatment. Enhancing physical activity (PA) might promote neuroregeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) and positively influence disability, thus providing an alternative to medical treatment. Previous studies indicate that evidence-based patient information (EBPI) is essential for inducing behavioral change, e.g. enhancing PA. Objective To investigate feasibility of a smartphone app providing EBPI about the benefit of PA and a simple activity feedback to enhance PA in people with CPMS in a pilot randomized controlled trial over 3 months. Methods Thirty-eight people with CPMS (mean age 51 years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale 4.0) were 1:1 randomized into either a control group (n = 20) or an intervention group (n = 18). The intervention group received access to a multimedia EBPI app including activity feedback, texts, figures and videos. In the control group, participants received a leaflet with unspecific information about exercising in general. The EPBI itself was designed based on a systematic review. At baseline and after 3 months, all participants underwent clinical performance tests, filled in questionnaires and received an activity monitor (Actigraph®) for 7 days. The primary endpoint was the rate of responders defined as participants with a 20% increase of physical acitivity (time of moderate or vigiorous PA—MVPA) or 20% increase of the number of steps, both assessed with the activity monitor. As secondary endpoints, we compared accelerometry, performance and questionnaires adjusted for baseline measurments between the groups (ANCOVA). Moreover, we used questionnaires to compare knowledge about exercise (activity requiring physical effort, carried out to improve or improve health and fitness) in MS, usability of the app in general and motivation towards a more active lifestyle after 3 months in both groups. Results The groups showed significant differences in disease duration and PA according to the Godin–Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire at baseline. After 3 months, we detected no difference in the rate of responders, which was an overall 22%. However, MVPA significantly increased in both groups (p < 0.001) and the intervention group tended to have a higher motivation towards a more active lifestyle (Cohens D = 0.7, p = 0.09) as measured by the questionnaire. Reponses also showed, that participants appreciated the app but claimed a lack of interactivity as a short-coming. Conclusion Just providing information in a multimedia smartphone app did not enhance physical activitiy more than a simple leaflet in this small pilot trial in CPMS. However, the group of app users tended to have a higher motivation towards a more active lifestyle. Overall, the concept of a smartphone app to support an active lifestyle in MS is highly appreciated by participants.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Smartphone App to Promote Healthy Weight Gain, Diet, and Physical Activity During Pregnancy (HealthyMoms): Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Sandborg ◽  
Emmie Söderström ◽  
Pontus Henriksson ◽  
Marcus Bendtsen ◽  
Maria Henström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Fatness

BACKGROUND Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy is a major public health concern associated with negative health outcomes for both mother and child. Scalable interventions are needed, and digital interventions have the potential to reach many women and promote healthy GWG. Most previous studies of digital interventions have been small pilot studies or have not included women from all BMI categories. We therefore examined the effectiveness of a smartphone app in a large sample (n=305) covering all BMI categories. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month intervention (the HealthyMoms app) on GWG, body fatness, dietary habits, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), glycemia, and insulin resistance in comparison to standard maternity care. METHODS A 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. Women in early pregnancy at maternity clinics in Östergötland, Sweden, were recruited. Eligible women who provided written informed consent completed baseline measures, before being randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention (n=152) or control group (n=153). The control group received standard maternity care while the intervention group received the HealthyMoms smartphone app for 6 months (which includes multiple features, eg, information; push notifications; self-monitoring; and feedback features for GWG, diet, and physical activity) in addition to standard care. Outcome measures were assessed at Linköping University Hospital at baseline (mean 13.9 [SD 0.7] gestational weeks) and follow-up (mean 36.4 [SD 0.4] gestational weeks). The primary outcome was GWG and secondary outcomes were body fatness (Bod Pod), dietary habits (Swedish Healthy Eating Index) using the web-based 3-day dietary record Riksmaten FLEX, MVPA using the ActiGraph wGT3x-BT accelerometer, glycemia, and insulin resistance. RESULTS Overall, we found no statistically significant effect on GWG (<i>P</i>=.62); however, the data indicate that the effect of the intervention differed by pre-pregnancy BMI, as women with overweight and obesity before pregnancy gained less weight in the intervention group as compared with the control group in the imputed analyses (–1.33 kg; 95% CI –2.92 to 0.26; <i>P</i>=.10) and completers-only analyses (–1.67 kg; 95% CI –3.26 to –0.09; <i>P</i>=.031]). Bayesian analyses showed that there was a 99% probability of any intervention effect on GWG among women with overweight and obesity, and an 81% probability that this effect was over 1 kg. The intervention group had higher scores for the Swedish Healthy Eating Index at follow-up than the control group (0.27; 95% CI 0.05-0.50; <i>P</i>=.017). We observed no statistically significant differences in body fatness, MVPA, glycemia, and insulin resistance between the intervention and control group at follow up (<i>P</i>≥.21). CONCLUSIONS Although we found no overall effect on GWG, our results demonstrate the potential of a smartphone app (HealthyMoms) to promote healthy dietary behaviors as well as to decrease weight gain during pregnancy in women with overweight and obesity. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03298555; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03298555 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/13011

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