Self-Selected Walking Cadence after 16-Week Light-Intensity Physical Activity Intervention for Older Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Cancer Survivorship

Background:

• Older adults, particularly cancer survivors, are at risk for reduced physical activity and mobility deficits.
• Light-intensity physical activity interventions aim to improve health outcomes in this population.
• Understanding self-selected ambulatory behavior is crucial for effective intervention design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if older cancer survivors self-select a faster walking cadence to achieve daily step goals following a light-intensity physical activity intervention.
• To analyze changes in peak and average walking cadence and stepping patterns associated with ambulatory intensity.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of a light-intensity physical activity intervention involving 41 older cancer survivors.
• Measurement of average steps/day and free-living walking cadence using ActivPAL monitors (7 days pre- and post-intervention).
• Categorization of stepping patterns into cadence bands (e.g., 100–119 steps/min for moderate intensity).

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significant increases in peak 30-min cadence (4.3 steps/min), average 10-min cadence (4.1 steps/min), and average 30-min cadence (5.7 steps/min) compared to the control group.
• Steps within the moderate-intensity cadence band (100–119 steps/min) increased by 478 steps/day in the intervention group versus a decrease in the control group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Older cancer survivors can increase their walking cadence to meet physical activity goals.
• Evaluating free-living walking cadence and ambulatory behavior patterns is valuable for designing targeted interventions.
• Findings can inform strategies to mitigate mobility deficits and maintain independence in at-risk older populations.