Manpo-Kei: The Art and Science of Step Counting [Paperback]

Catrine Tudor-Locke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2006

Written in a refreshingly humorous and compassionate by the creator of the First Step Program, the only scientifically proven pedometer-based physical activity intervention, Manpo-Kei: The Art and Science of Step Counting presents the appealing rationale and the simplistic methods for taking back our naturally active lifestyles using a simple and inexpensive pedometer

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Tudor-Locke is an Assistant Professor of Health Promotion at the Department of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University and an Adjunct Professor at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Tudor-Locke has been uniquely trained as both a basic scientist (exercise physiology) and as a practice-based health program educator and evaluator. Dr. Tudor-Locke is gaining a reputation as a researcher interested in understanding and addressing the problems associated with sedentary lifestyles. Her name has been linked to pedometry in numerous publications and through national and international conference presentations. Dr. Tudor-Locke has considerable experience collecting and analyzing pedometer-assessed physical activity data in field settings. Her work shows that she excels at effectively linking and intergrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and is rooted in practice-based, action research. Most recently she has developed The First Step Program, a novel daily physical activity intervention for obese and sedentary individuals with type 2 diabetes, capitalizing on a simple and inexpensive pedometer as a self-monitoring and goal setting tool.

Prior to returning to academic training, Dr. Tudor-Locke worked for four years as a Program Director at the YMCA in Alberta, Canada, and another four years as the Community Exercise Physiologist at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging. In both these practice-based occupations, Dr. Tudor-Locke directed physical activity program development, implementation, and delivery for a wide range of populations. Dr. Tudor-Locke has presented widely to both academic and lay audiences and has written educational and training documents suitable for both reader audiences. She has added to her training with a certificate in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Dr. Tudor-Locke monitors her physical activity daily with a pedometer. She walks or bikes to work regularly, tries to keep true to a weight training regimen, walks to local coffee and lunch spots for a break from her sedentary academic occupation, and runs and walks regularly in her neighborhood with friends. In the evening she lays on the couch with her husband and watches TV. She averages 14,000 steps/day.

Product Details

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (June 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553954815
• ISBN-13: 978-1553954811
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,753,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Pedometer-Based Approach to Increasing Physical Activity, May 23, 2003

By 

Cara L. Sidman (Harrisonburg, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manpo-Kei: The Art and Science of Step Counting (Paperback)

Manpo-kei, a creative, scientifically based practical guide to increasing physical activity using pedometers, is not only easy and fun to read, it is very informative. With obesity and physical inactivity levels on the rise, finding unique ways to get people moving for a lifetime is critical. Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke, a renowned researcher at Arizona State University and lifestyle physical activity advocate, has done just that in this inspired book.

Manpo-kei provides knowledge, tools, and strategies to make informed, personal choices about physical activity using pedometers as a guide. More specifically, Dr. Tudor-Locke presents background as to why inactivity is such a widespread problem, discusses pedometer selection and use (including a shopping checklist for purchasing a pedometer), and offers a user-friendly, theoretically based approach to goal setting and tracking step counts for the lifetime. She provides activity and tracking calendars, as well worksheets where readers are encouraged to answer questions pertaining to their personal activity behaviors and are asked to reexamine their step goals and experiences to make necessary adjustments to maintain activity. In addition, Dr. Tudor-Locke dispels the myth that 10,000 steps per day is for everyone. Step goals are personal and should reflect beginning step counts as well as personal health and/or fitness goals. Her "More Than Before" concept toward goal setting considers the importance of individualized step goals that will elicit benefits as well as sustainability.

What I like best about this book is the approach. The underlying theme about being more physically active by making informed choices, setting personal pedometer step goals, and tracking progress is discussed in entertaining and simple terms. The fact that the material is based on Dr. Tudor-Locke's personal experiences, professional knowledge, and her own research findings demonstrates the credibility, relevance, and effectiveness of the outlined techniques. Readers, and hopeful new pedometer users, can easily relate the information in Manpo-kei to their personal lives in a way that will provide the impetus to adopt a naturally physically active lifestyle over the long term. It is without hesitation that I recommend this book to those who want to learn more about an exciting and practical new approach to human movement.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too Basic!, May 27, 2007

By 

K. A. Stevenson "WIAPilot" (Tucson) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manpo-Kei: The Art and Science of Step Counting (Paperback)

I thought the price of this book was absolutely RIDICULOUS. It measures 7" x 5" and is a paperback of approximately 80 pages - not counting references. Each page contained 2-3 PARAGRAPHS with slightly larger print so I would estimate that this would be about 50 pages of a normal book, which I read in under an hour.

Needless to say, the book was just way too basic. I did really like the concept of the term "Manpo-Kei" - as it just SOUNDS more intriguing than "step counting." LOL But Dr. Tudor-Locke could have just done so much more with this book. The history of Manpo-Kei was quite interesting, but I felt that it could have been expanded upon. I came away from reading this book with the impression that this was just a lecture or paper that the author had put into book form.

Did I get some advice from the book? Yes. Primarily, don't let your pedometer fall in the toilet!

The author advocates buying the pedometer that is the simplest with as few features as possible. I disagree and have found that these simple pedometers just can't take being dropped, when they inevitably take a fall. I absolutely LOVE my OMRON pedometer with software (approx $30-$40 from Amazon). It resets itself at midnight and stores my steps for 7 days and allows me to see my progress via charts with the software. Incredibly simple to use however. Also - so sturdy that it has taken at LEAST 10 falls and remained accurate.

Generally, I don't recommend a book INSTEAD of another. However, if you REALLY wish to learn about step counting, an EXCELLENT book is "10,000 Steps a Day to Your Optimal Weight" by Greg Issacs. I cannot recommend it enough!

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, like it should be!, January 8, 2011

By 

Justin Z. Smith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manpo-Kei: The Art and Science of Step Counting (Paperback)

The book is short, simple, as it should be, since there isn't much to it. Get a pedometer, get a baseline daily number of steps, and set a goal for increasing the counts, and plan how to do it, and then do it.

Such walking is especially important so we don't only work out 1-3 times per week, but do absolutely little activity between those rare events!

There are better pedometers, however, than the one shown in the book.