The effects of walking with pedometers on quality of life and various symptoms and issues relating to aging

AIMS: This study is aimed to elucidate the effect of aerobic walking using watch-type pedometers with or without a heart rate checker, which may support to keep moderate exercise intensity.METHODS: Thirty one healthy subjects (mean age, 59.1 ± 5.0, 17 men and 14 women) were divided into 2 groups: the study group of 15 subjects (8 men and 7 women) using a pedometer with a heart rate checker and the control group of 16 subjects (9 men and 7 women) using a common pedometer checking heart rates by themselves. All participants tried aerobic walking exercises alone for 8 weeks, 5 days a week, for 45 minutes a day with an instructed exercise intensity 40 to 60%. The subjects underwent height, weight, body fat percentage, blood pressure, and hematological and blood chemistry tests before and after the study. In addition, all participants completed an aging and QOL questionnaire before and after the study.RESULTS: A decrease of systolic blood pressure (before-study value 140.2 ± 23.2 mmHg) by 3.7% and an increase of estrogen levels (by 37%) in women were observed in both groups. In a comparative study of the 2 groups, the study group showed significant improvements in “lethargy”, “tinnitus”, “early satiety”, “constipation” and “arthralgia” as physical symptoms and in “difficulty in falling asleep” and “pessimism” as mental symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic walking with a heart rate checker may help to maintain the exercise intensity within the range of 40% to 60% of maximum, thus resulted more desirable data than walking with self heart rate checking at one’s own pace.