Hand-held Computers Prod Older Adults to Increase Exercise

Via the National Center on Aging:

Today’syounger generation may reckon that “ne’er the twain shall meet” wheretechnology and their elders are concerned. However, ongoing research byAbby King, PhD, professor of health research and policy and of medicineat the Stanford Prevention Research Center, appears to be graduallydispelling that notion.

In a study that appears in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, King showed that specially programmed PDAs, or personal digital assistants, can prod middle-aged and older Americans–the most sedentary segment of the U.S. population–into increasing their physical activity levels.

This first-generation study follows on the heels of King’s research report in the December issue of Health Psychology, in which she showed that automated computer calls were almost as effective as live health educators in coaxing people previously less active to get more of a spring in their step.

Kingand colleagues feel that developing approaches to help people increasetheir exercise frequency, while taking into account an individual’sschedule and environment, is particularly important.

“Portablecomputer devices are useful because they can be carried aroundthroughout a person’s day,” King said. “Such devices represent one kindof strategy for being able to provide individuals with the help andsupport they need, in a convenient, real-time context.”