Apps and Step Trackers: About 800 Extra Steps a Day
Graded Strong — pooled 26 randomized trials with 4,129 older adults, but results scattered widely and the step benefit lost significance after adjusting for likely unpublished studies.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Participants
- 4,129
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- No external funding; the authors state they received no financial support.
Digital activity programmes gave older adults about 823 more steps a day and roughly 46 extra minutes of brisker activity per week.
Apps, wearables and online programmes are often pitched as a way to keep older people moving. An analysis that pooled 26 randomized trials with 4,129 participants found a modest payoff. People using these programmes walked about 823 more steps a day than the comparison groups. They also added roughly 46 minutes a week of activity brisk enough to raise the breath.
Participants had average ages between 60 and 77. Some were healthy and living at home, others were frail or at risk of falls or chronic disease. The programmes combined several elements: setting goals, tracking yourself, automatic feedback and contact with others. Control groups usually got usual care, written information or nothing. For sitting time, light activity and total activity time, no clear difference was detected.
Results varied widely between trials. After adjusting for probably unpublished studies, the step advantage was no longer clear-cut. Most trials mixed digital tools with human support, so how much the technology alone contributed stays uncertain. Measurements were taken almost only while the programmes were still running.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors declare no competing interests.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.