Relationship between pedometer-registered activity, aerobic capacity and self-reported activity and fitness in...

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between pedometer-registered activity, aerobic capacity (VO(2 max)) and self-reported activity and fitness in patients with type 2 diabetes before and after a 12-week exercise programme.

Twenty-nine men with type 2 diabetes (age=57.4 (7.8) years, BMI=31.7 (2.8) kg/m(2)) underwent exercise testing, registered pedometer activity and reported their physical fitness and activity in a questionnaire. Participants were randomly allocated to an exercise (EX) group (n=15) or a control (CO) group (n=14). Participants in EX group were offered supervised exercise twice a week for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, participants again underwent exercise testing, fasting blood tests and registration of pedometer activity.

At baseline, pedometer activity correlated with VO(2 max) (r=0.43, p=0.02) and with perceived physical fitness (r=0.48, p=0.02). After, but not before, intervention, pedometer activity and VO(2 max) additionally correlated with perceived everyday activity (r=0.62, p<0.01 and r=0.49, p=0.03, respectively). Both EX and CO groups tended to increase pedometer activity. In EX group, weight decreased by 2.7% (p=0.01), VO(2 max) increased 10.6% (p=0.03) and HbA1c decreased by 5.2% from baseline (p=0.02). In EX group, an increase in pedometer activity correlated with a fall in HbA1c (r=0.84, p<0.01) and in diastolic blood pressure (r=0.77, p=0.025).

Pedometer activity correlates with VO(2 max) in type-2 diabetic patients. Our exercise programme was well tolerated; it produced favourable effects on body weight, aerobic capacity and metabolic control. The use of pedometer may lead to more realistic assessment of perceived everyday physical activity.