Background:

A primary goal of phase II cardiac rehab (CR) is to encourage regular independent exercise activities and develop strategies to motivate patients and track progress to this end. Pedometers have been identified as a useful motivational tool and exercise tracking devise. While there is ample literature extolling the use of pedometers in various populations, there is scant quantifiable data on their utility in a CR cohort. This research was designed to determine if pedometers are a useful self-exercise recording and motivational tool in the CR setting.

Methods:

98 subjects were randomly assigned to open pedometer N = 46 or closed pedometer N = 52 groups. The Open group viewed pedometer readings and recorded daily step counts. Pedometers were sealed for Closed and recorded by CR staff. A Control group of 100 subjects was matched to the treatment groups. The groups were statistically homogeneous in key demographic and physiologic variables. All subjects were asked to incrementally increase independent activity. Subjects were excluded who could not complete 20 rehab sessions, consistently self-record steps or appropriately wear pedometers.

Results:

The combined Open and Closed groups displayed significant estimated functional work capacity (FWC) gain in daily METs measured from CR start to finish. Although non-significant, the Open group also had increased mean steps per day (MSD) above the Closed group, (6,396 vs. 5,694). On subgroup analysis entry FWC significantly predicted P < .001 increases in MSD.

Conclusions:

Significant daily training gains in CR were evident in pedometer wearers however, viewing and recording results had only a marginal motivational influence on increasing independent exercise in this group. Functional status on program entry strongly predicted MSD achievement. Given these data, pedometer use may influence training gains in CR, however selection bias may account for these differences in this cohort.