PM&R News   •   May 2018

Ever wonder if issuing patients the newest technology to track their exercise and having formal coaching can improve their home exercise?  Well this study, took a look at just that.  Patients with peripheral artery disease were randomized into home based exercise vs usual care for a follow up of 9 months. The exercise group received four medical visits and then 8 months of technology monitoring and telephone coaching calls. The other group received no onsite visits, no wearable technology, and no coaching. The study decided to use change in 6 minute walk distance as a primary outcome measure. 200 patients were randomized and 91% completed the 9 month follow up. The intervention group had an improvement in walk distance of 5.5 meters, while the non-intervention group had an increase of 14.4 meters. These interesting results are opposite of what many of us would have expected. In a world of increasing technology and ability to track your activity, one would think the daily progress and appraisal would assist in making impacts in one’s health.  Maybe less technology is better after all?