Social Goals and Individual Incentives to Promote Walking in Older Adults

Social Goals and Individual Incentives to Promote Walking in Older Adults (Way to Walk II)

The goal of this randomized and controlled trial is to test whether a financial incentive of a donation to achieve a social goal is more effective to motivate and sustain a daily walking habit than the same dollar value given to an older adult. The investigators will achieve this using a novel computer platform utilizing a digital pedometer-internet interface.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult 65 years of age and older
• Can read and speak English
• Access to a personal computer with high-speed internet connection and functional Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for the study duration
• Able to walk 1/4 mile (i.e., 2 to 3 blocks) without stopping
• No pedometer use in last 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

Major medical conditions including:

• serious heart and lung diseases
• diabetes requiring insulin therapy
• severe arthritis
• neurologic disorders
• dementia
• heavy alcohol use
• recent knee or spinal surgery