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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the impact of portable body sensing technology (SW3 Armband) to a traditional approach, a Physical Activity Logbook (PAL) in promoting physical activity adherence. Participant’s physical activity adherence levels were recorded over a six month period. The primary research involved a six month physical activity programme that commenced in October 2010 and finished in April 2011. Females (n=30) were recruited through a local newspaper and a radio advertisement. Participants were randomised to an Intervention Group (n=15) or a Control Group (n=15). To be eligible to participate in the study the following criteria applied: (1) age range: 30-50 years, (2) gender: female, (3) location: live in the Letterkenny or surrounding area, (4) physical activity levels: did not meet the World Health Organisations (WHO, 2011) recommendations for physical activity, (5) have access to windows XP. Participants were assessed at Baseline, Time 1 (week eight), Time 2 (week eighteen) and Time 3 (week twenty-six) regarding the amount of physical activity minutes accumulated. The results of this study specify that the Control Group (CG) performed a greater amount of moderate intensity minutes of physical activity compared to the Intervention Group (IG). At the end of Time 3, the CG was performing three times more moderate physical activity than that of the IG. Therefore, the traditional method of a PAL has proved to be an effective method of promoting physical activity adherence when compared to that of the SW3 Armband. The SW3 Armband is a wireless technological device consisting of an armband worn on the upper right arm and a wrist watch. The SW3 Armband and wrist watch displays real time, collective and significant data such as daily step count and minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity.

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