Newly released research recommends peer-focused programs and access to health care providers for successful implementation of walking programs. Pedometers can be a useful tool for motivating people to be physically active, and their use and availability as an affordable tool have increased dramatically in recent years.

This study sought to find out more about the perceptions of participants who had been involved in a pedometer-based walking program and learn more about the program’s effects on their physical activity. 27 adults aged 55 to 86 years old who had previously participated in a walking program, participated in focus group sessions to explore specific components that contributed to the increased physical activity seen as a result of the walking program.

Four topic areas emerged; factors that led to increases in daily step count, factors that hindered increases in daily step count, benefits of a pedometer intervention program, and recommendations on how to improve older adults’ physical activity.

Factors that led to increases in daily step count included the pedometer, record keeping, walking partners and places to walk. Hindering factors included weather, physical condition/health issue, time commitment, safety, and lack of a walking partner.

Perceived benefits of the pedometer program included, among others, increased physical strength, better balance/less fear of falling, weight loss and better sleep. Notably, recommendations from the participants included not only having many safe and appealing places to walk, walking partners and accountability, but having the program be simple and easy to follow, recommendations from health care providers to participate and programs offered by health-fitness professionals.

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