Active women over 50: study protocol for RCT of a low-dose information and support program to promote physical activity behaviour change.

BACKGROUND: There is compelling evidence that physical activity has many physical and mental health benefits and can delay the development of disability in older age. However, uptake of this health behaviour is sub-optimal in working women in their middle age. This trial aims to establish the impact of a low-dose information program, incorporating follow-up support using behaviour change techniques, compared with a wait-list control group, on physical activity among women aged 50+ years. METHODS: 100 female university or health service employees aged 50 years and over who are not sufficiently active according to national guidelines will be recruited and randomised to: [1] attend one information session at the worksite with follow-up email support and provision of resources including use of an activity tracker (Fitbit) for 3 months and free trial class at the university sports facility, or [2] a wait-list control to receive the intervention after the 3-month follow-up period. The primary outcome will be the proportion of people achieving 10,000 steps/day at 3 months post randomisation. Secondary outcomes will include the proportion of people achieving national guideline-recommended physical activity levels, the average self-reported hours of physical activity per week, perceived benefits of and barriers to exercise participation, physical functioning, and mood. Analyses will be planned, conducted while masked to group allocation and will use an intention-to-treat approach. DISCUSSION: This randomised controlled trial will evaluate the impact of a simple intervention using behaviour change techniques to increase physical activity participation in insufficiently active working women over the age of 50. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12617000485336 , prospectively registered, approved 04/04/2017.

Active Women over 50. Promoting Physical Activity in Women Over 50: A Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: This study aims to test the effect of an information and support intervention on physical activity (PA) in women aged 50+ years. DESIGN: Randomized wait-list controlled trial. SETTING: Sydney, Australia. SAMPLE: 126 female university and health service employees, aged 50+. INTERVENTION: Information session, activity tracker, regular motivational emails. MEASURES: Proportion achieving ≥ 10,000 steps/day (primary outcome), daily step count, proportion meeting 150 mins/week of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), self-reported PA. ANALYSIS: Odds-ratios and general linear regression models. RESULTS: At 3 months, the intervention group reported significantly more vigorous PA (1.04 hours, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.85, P = .01, measured by IPAQ), were more likely to achieve 300 mins/week of MVPA (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 0.89 to 4.36, P = .09, measured by Actigraph) than the control wait-list group, and reported adopting PA promotion strategies (technology = 31/58% or goal-setting = 39/74%). No significant between-group differences in the primary outcome were detected (1.39, 95% CI 0.61 to 3.18, P = .44). CONCLUSIONS: This low-dose intervention significantly increased self-reported vigorous PA time and non-significantly increased the proportion of people achieving 300 mins/week of MVPA but did not significantly increase the proportion of participants achieving 10,000 steps/day. Relatively small effects may be important at a population level given the minimal resources needed to deliver this intervention.

Complex regional pain syndrome after dermatological surgery.

We report a case of complex regional pain syndrome developing in a 57-year-old woman after minor skin surgery in the sole of her right foot. This was diagnosed and treated in its early phase with sympathetic blockade using guanethedine with complete recovery of symptoms.