Telephone versus mail interventions for maintenance of physical activity in older adults

Although telephone and mail are often used tor promote physical activity ad option, their ability to produce long-term. maintenance is, unclear. In thi s study, 140 men and women aged 50-65 years received 1 year of telephone co unseling tol adopt higher (i.e., more vigorous) versus lower intensity (i.e ., moderate) exercise. After I yearn, participants were rerandomized to a 2 nd year of contact via (a) telephone and mail or (b) predominantly mail. Pa rticipants who were prescribed higher intensity exercise and received predo minantly mail had better exercise adherence during the maintenance year tha n those who received telephone and mail. Both strategies were similarly eff ective in promoting maintenance in the lower intensity condition. Results s uggest that after successful adoption of physical activity with the help of telephone counseling,, less intensive interventions are successful for phy sical activity maintenance in older adults.