Effects of a 12-week Walking Program on CVD Risks among Rural Men and Women

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of a 12-week minimal contact walking program on psychosocial variables, physical activity, and indicators of cardiovascular health in rural men and women. Methods: Participants were 29 insufficiently active men and women aged 35-64 years who were at risk for cardiovascular disease, as assessed through the Framingham 10-year risk survey. All participants completed all pre- and post-testing measures, which included: (1) a 15-minute survey assessing self-regulatory efficacy, perception of risk, behavioral intention, and physical activity, (2) resting heart rate, (3) blood pressure, (4) waist-hip ratio, (5) lipid profile, (6) serum glucose, and (7) body fat. At baseline all participants received a pedometer, step log, and physical activity informational brochure and were instructed to accumulate 150 minutes of walking each week and to log their daily steps on the step log to be submitted weekly. In addition, participants were sent weekly self-efficacy boosting emails. Results: Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in risk perception (p=.01), resting heart rate (p=.039), glucose (p=.000), Framingham heart age – laboratory risk factors (p=.002), Framingham non-lab heart-age (p=.000), days of moderate intensity physical activity (p=.011), and minutes of moderate intensity physical activity/day (p=.017). Based on the Framingham risk survey algorithm, heart age decreased by 6.2 years (lab) and 3.2 years (non-lab). Conclusions: Participation in this walking intervention resulted in multiple improved health outcomes among participants, suggesting that significant risk reduction benefits may be achieved in a rural community setting by means of a low-cost, minimal contact walking program.