Apparently, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) tend to lead increasingly sedentary lives as their condition progresses.

In a Chilean trial patients with COPD who took part in a three month individualised programme to promote an increase in physical activity were randomised to a standard programme of encouragement alone or a pedometer based programme.

Those merely advised to increase their activity showed little change, whereas those given a pedometer showed a substantial increase, averaging more than 3000 extra steps a day.

Reference

Mendoza, L., Horta, P., Espinoza, J., Aguilera, M., Balmaceda, N., Castro, A., Ruiz, M., Díaz, O. & Hopkinson, N.S. (2014) Pedometers to Enhance Physical Activity in COPD: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Published online before print September 26, 2014, doi:10.1183/09031936.00084514.