Physical activity monitors can get us on our feet more. How to make the most of them

The fitness tracker on your phone or wrist may be doing more than just monitoring your steps -- it could kick them up a notch.

Monitoring exercise increased that activity among the more than 16,000 participants in a study published last week.

Researchers looked at data from 121 randomized control trials and 141 study comparisons to find what impact exercise monitors -- like those found on phone apps and Fitbits -- had on everyday physical activity, moderate and vigorous physical activity, and sedentary time, according to the study.

Using fitness apps increased everyday physical activity by an equivalent of 1,235 steps a day, and moderate and vigorous physical activity by 48.5 minutes a week, research showed. The impact on sedentary time was insignificant, according to the study.

"People who use activity monitors and wearables are more active than people that do not," said Rasmus Tolstrup Larsen, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen's department of public health.