Feedback From Activity Trackers Improves Daily Step Count After Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

202 patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty were given a commercial activity tracker (Vivofit 2; Garmin) to wear for two weeks prior to surgery, and were then randomized to either receive or not receive feedback from the activity tracker in the postoperative period. Groups were compared for daily step counts, as a percentage of average during the preoperative period, at 1, 2, and 6 weeks postoperatively, as well as 6 months postoperatively. Results demonstrated significantly greater percentage of preoperative step counts in the feedback group compared to the no feedback groups after 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months.