A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees
IntroductionThe primary objectives of the present individualized randomized controlled trial were to increase physical activity (PA) and improve physical fitness.Materials and methods260 military employees around Finland participated. Two-thirds, (158), were randomized in the intervention and one-th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1549980/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849229168130129920 |
|---|---|
| author | Emilia Pietiläinen Emilia Pietiläinen Heikki Kyröläinen Heikki Kyröläinen Kai Parkkola Kai Parkkola Tiina Luukkaala Tiina Luukkaala Tommi Vasankari Tommi Vasankari |
| author_facet | Emilia Pietiläinen Emilia Pietiläinen Heikki Kyröläinen Heikki Kyröläinen Kai Parkkola Kai Parkkola Tiina Luukkaala Tiina Luukkaala Tommi Vasankari Tommi Vasankari |
| author_sort | Emilia Pietiläinen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe primary objectives of the present individualized randomized controlled trial were to increase physical activity (PA) and improve physical fitness.Materials and methods260 military employees around Finland participated. Two-thirds, (158), were randomized in the intervention and one-third, (101), in the control group. The intervention group used Exsed Movesense accelerometers linked to smartphones measuring PA and sleep for six months. They received feedback via a smartphone application, were encouraged to exercise during worktime for 2 hours/week, and participated in telephone counseling. The control group continued PA routines without the accelerometer or feedback. Measurements were taken at the baseline, 6-mo and 12-mo after the intervention. They included two-week RM 42-accelerometer measurements of PA, cardiometabolic biomarkers, body composition, physical fitness tests, and a questionnaire about stress and work ability for the intervention group at every point and for the control group at baseline and 12-mo. At the 6-mo, only PA was measured in the control group. Primary outcomes were changes in PA from baseline to 6-mo and 12-mo as well as changes in maximal oxygen uptake and fitness index from baseline to 12-mo. Secondary outcomes were changes in other parameters from baseline to 12-mo. The effect of the intervention on primary and secondary outcomes was analyzed using unadjusted generalised linear mixed model, accounting for a group-by-time interaction effect in all models.ResultsThere was no statistically significant group-by-time interaction regarding the measured parameters. However, amount the intervention group daily standing time (mean increase 18 min/day, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6–29 min/day) and maximal oxygen uptake (mean increase 2.15 ml/kg/min 95% CI 0.56–3.74 ml/kg/min) tended to increase during twelve months.DiscussionThe intervention did not effectively change the primary outcomes, but showed encouraging trends and revealed the potential and challenges of the intervention developed to increase PA in a military workplace. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ec7a59cb2bb44a98717e3e07139ba8a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ec7a59cb2bb44a98717e3e07139ba8a2025-08-22T05:26:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-08-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15499801549980A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employeesEmilia Pietiläinen0Emilia Pietiläinen1Heikki Kyröläinen2Heikki Kyröläinen3Kai Parkkola4Kai Parkkola5Tiina Luukkaala6Tiina Luukkaala7Tommi Vasankari8Tommi Vasankari9Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandCenter for Military Medicine, Helsinki, FinlandFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FinlandDepartment of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandDepartment of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, FinlandHealth Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandResearch, Development and Innovation Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandUKK institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, FinlandIntroductionThe primary objectives of the present individualized randomized controlled trial were to increase physical activity (PA) and improve physical fitness.Materials and methods260 military employees around Finland participated. Two-thirds, (158), were randomized in the intervention and one-third, (101), in the control group. The intervention group used Exsed Movesense accelerometers linked to smartphones measuring PA and sleep for six months. They received feedback via a smartphone application, were encouraged to exercise during worktime for 2 hours/week, and participated in telephone counseling. The control group continued PA routines without the accelerometer or feedback. Measurements were taken at the baseline, 6-mo and 12-mo after the intervention. They included two-week RM 42-accelerometer measurements of PA, cardiometabolic biomarkers, body composition, physical fitness tests, and a questionnaire about stress and work ability for the intervention group at every point and for the control group at baseline and 12-mo. At the 6-mo, only PA was measured in the control group. Primary outcomes were changes in PA from baseline to 6-mo and 12-mo as well as changes in maximal oxygen uptake and fitness index from baseline to 12-mo. Secondary outcomes were changes in other parameters from baseline to 12-mo. The effect of the intervention on primary and secondary outcomes was analyzed using unadjusted generalised linear mixed model, accounting for a group-by-time interaction effect in all models.ResultsThere was no statistically significant group-by-time interaction regarding the measured parameters. However, amount the intervention group daily standing time (mean increase 18 min/day, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6–29 min/day) and maximal oxygen uptake (mean increase 2.15 ml/kg/min 95% CI 0.56–3.74 ml/kg/min) tended to increase during twelve months.DiscussionThe intervention did not effectively change the primary outcomes, but showed encouraging trends and revealed the potential and challenges of the intervention developed to increase PA in a military workplace.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1549980/fullphysical activityaccelerometermobile applicationsphysical fitnesscardiometabolic healthsedentary behavior |
| spellingShingle | Emilia Pietiläinen Emilia Pietiläinen Heikki Kyröläinen Heikki Kyröläinen Kai Parkkola Kai Parkkola Tiina Luukkaala Tiina Luukkaala Tommi Vasankari Tommi Vasankari A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees Frontiers in Sports and Active Living physical activity accelerometer mobile applications physical fitness cardiometabolic health sedentary behavior |
| title | A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees |
| title_full | A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees |
| title_fullStr | A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees |
| title_full_unstemmed | A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees |
| title_short | A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees |
| title_sort | randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees |
| topic | physical activity accelerometer mobile applications physical fitness cardiometabolic health sedentary behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1549980/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emiliapietilainen arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT emiliapietilainen arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT heikkikyrolainen arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT heikkikyrolainen arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT kaiparkkola arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT kaiparkkola arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tiinaluukkaala arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tiinaluukkaala arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tommivasankari arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tommivasankari arandomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT emiliapietilainen randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT emiliapietilainen randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT heikkikyrolainen randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT heikkikyrolainen randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT kaiparkkola randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT kaiparkkola randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tiinaluukkaala randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tiinaluukkaala randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tommivasankari randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees AT tommivasankari randomizedcontrolledtrialutilizinganinteractiveaccelerometerlinkedtoasmartphoneapplicationforenhancingphysicalactivityandhealthamongmilitaryemployees |