Effectiveness of interventions to maintain physical activity behavior (device‐measured): Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Summary Physical activity has many physical, mental, and social health benefits. Interventions can be successful at helping people initiate participation, but there is a lack of evidence about the ability of these interventions to help adults maintain their physical activity. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to address this evidence gap. We investigated the extent to which successful physical activity interventions with demonstrated success within randomized controlled trials result in maintenance of device‐measured physical activity (at least 3 months post‐intervention end). Five databases were searched, and 8919 titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility, and 29 trials met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 22 were included in the meta‐analysis. We found that 60% to 80% of physical activity behavior was maintained, as equivalent to an additional 45 min/week of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity and 945 steps per day compared with comparators. We also examined trials that randomized participants to maintenance interventions after an initial physical activity intervention (n = 7) and we found small effects (standardized mean difference 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1 to 0.27). The evidence suggests that most (60%–80%) of the increases in physical activity in successful programs are maintained for at least 3 months and there are small effects from providing a maintenance intervention to the public. Registration: CRD42019144585.

Parent-focused online intervention to promote parents’ physical literacy and support children’s physical activity: results from a quasi-experimental trial

“…Furthermore, the intervention focuses on parent education, intending to help parents understand what each component of PL entails and support children's PL development. Despite the significance of PA being emphasized, it is difficult for people to make a fundamental change from cognition to practice [ 48 ]. As such, researchers still need to carry out more novel explorations and attempts to bridge the intention-to-action gap, finding further ways to promote PA participation, such as regular family involvement in PA sessions, including prioritizing PA time in daily family routine, reinforcing the role of parents, etc.…”

Brain Structure and Function Predict Adherence to an Exercise Intervention in Older Adults

“…Future studies could test whether the modulation of these measures results in the enhancement of adherence to prospectively test these predictions. Additionally, successful engagement in an exercise intervention may also be related to the long-term maintenance of exercise behaviors beyond the intervention (29). Consequently, applying this type of prediction modeling to recent large population and cohort studies (e.g., UK Biobank or Human Connectome Project) with imaging and self-report physical activity data could help one determine the proportion and characteristics of individuals who would require additional tailoring when designing future exercise interventions.…”

Brain structure and function predict adherence to an exercise intervention in older adults

“…For example, our results could be leveraged in future prospective studies to test whether adaptive interventions based on pre-intervention characteristic and brain signatures (our predictions) result in better adherence and intervention efficacy. Additionally, successful engagement in an exercise intervention may also be related to long-term maintenance of exercise behaviors beyond the intervention (Madigan et al, 2021). Consequently, applying this type of prediction modeling to recent large population and cohort studies (e.g., UK Biobank or Human Connectome Project) with imaging and self-report physical activity data could help one determine the proportion and characteristics of individuals who would require additional tailoring when designing future exercise interventions.…”

“…For example, by providing those who are predicted to adhere poorly with a health coach (Olsen & Nesbitt, 2010) or just-in-time messaging (Nahum-Shani et al, 2018), paving the way towards efficacious precision medicine approaches in health-based settings, when time can rarely be lost, and cost-efficiency is of upmost importance. This is also important as engagement in effective exercise interventions may lead to successful maintenance of physical activity after cessation of the intervention (Madigan et al, 2021) and so predicting adherence to the exercise intervention may also provide insights into sustained exercise behaviors.…”