Using pedometers is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure
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Pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity. A systemic review on English-language articles was conducted to evaluate the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes among outpatient adults. Of the 26 studies with a total of 2767 participants eligible for inclusion, 8 were randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 18 observational studies. Data were pooled and meta-regression was performed. Among the RCTs, pedometer users significantly increased their physical activity by 2491 steps per day more than control participants (P<0.001). In the observational studies, pedometer users significantly increased their physical activity by 2183 steps per day over baseline (P<0.0001). Overall, pedometer users increased their physical activity by 26.9 % over baseline. Furthermore, when data from all studies were combined, pedometer users significantly decreased their body mass index by 0.38. Intervention participants significantly decreased their systolic blood pressure by 3.8 mmHg. Defining a daily steps goal was also predictive of increased physical activity. In conclusion, the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and systolic blood pressure. However, it remains to be shown whether these changes are durable over the long term.
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