Pedometers alone do not increase mobility in inpatient rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.

To test if pedometers, as a motivational tool, could affect mobility outcomes in inpatient rehabilitation. Randomized controlled clinical trial. Subacute hospital rehabilitation unit in Australia. A total of 78 participants with reduced mobility and clinician-determined capacity to improve. Both groups received usual care. For the intervention group, a pedometer was worn on the hip with the step count visible to participant and recorded daily on an exercise log. For the control group, a pedometer fixed shut was worn on the hip and they recorded estimated distances walked on an exercise log. Primary outcome was functional mobility - De Morton Mobility Index. Secondary outcome measures were walking velocity, functional independence measure, time spent upright and daily step count. Significant improvements over time ( Pedometers as a motivational tool without targets do not improve functional mobility in this population. Pedometers may improve daily upright time in this setting.