Date of Award

1-1-2012

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Department

Exercise Science

First Advisor

Steven N Blair

Abstract

The integration of technology into physical activity (PA) assessments and interventions has limitless potential for surveillance and behavior change programs. The purpose of this dissertation was to identify and determine the effectiveness to use recent innovations in technology in the field of PA. Three studies were completed to address this issue. The first study tested the validity and reliability of the Technogym Mywellness Key accelerometer (MWK) in a treadmill protocol against gas exchange. Good overall reliability were found (all intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.93). Generalizability theory coefficients showed lower values for the running speed (0.70) versus the walking speeds (all > 0.84) with the majority of the variability derived from the participant (68% - 88%). Acceptable validity was found overall (Pearson's r = 0.895 - 0.902, p < 0.0001), with overall mean absolute percent error = 16.22%. Bland-Altman plots showed a modest overestimation of energy expenditure during the running speed, but total kilocalories were underestimated for the 20-minute protocol by approximately 10%. Overall, this study suggested good validity for use in health promotion or assessments. The MWK was then used as the objective measurement device in the second study. PA and psychosocial factors between two program tracks at a medical wellness center were assessed against the 2008 PA Guidelines for Americans. Sixty people participated in the study with 63.3% meeting or exceeding the PA Guidelines. The total volume and each category of activity minutes were not found to be statistically different between program tracks. For those meeting the PA guidelines, results showed slightly higher, but nonsignificant values for self-efficacy, self-regulation (goal setting subscale), and general health perceptions with greater odds of having higher self-efficacy (odds ratio(CI)) 1.04 (1.01-1.07)), self-regulation (goal setting subscale) (1.07 (1.01-1.14)), and physical functioning 1.04 (1.00-1.08). On exercise days, the volume of PA, measured by the MOVE metric, approximately doubled and equivalent moderate minutes were 418% higher than on a typical non-exercise day. Lastly, the cardiometabolic outcomes from four group conditions participating in a 9-month weight loss trail using real-time feedback from the Bodymedia SenseWearTM armband were studied. Compared with the standard care condition, fasting glucose decreased significantly for participants in the group, armband, and group + armband conditions (all p

Rights

© 2012, John Christopher Sieverdes

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