Document Type
Article
Subject Area(s)
Public Health
Abstract
Purpose: This study was designed to validate the Actical activity monitor in middle-aged and older adults of varying body composition to develop accelerometer thresholds to distinguish between light and moderate intensity physical activity (PA).
Methods: Nonobese 45 to 64 yr (N = 29), obese 45 to 64 yr (N = 21), and ≥65 yr (N = 23; varying body composition) participants completed laboratory-based sitting, household, and locomotive activities while wearing an Actical monitor and a portable metabolic measurement system. Non-linear regression analysis was used to identify activity count (AC) cut-points to differentiate between light intensity (<3 METs) and moderate intensity (≥3 METs) PA.
Results: Using group-specific algorithms, AC cut points for 3 METs were 1634, 1107, and 431 for the obese 45 to 64 yr group, nonobese 45 to 64 yr group, and ≥65 yr group, respectively. However, sensitivity and specificity analysis revealed that an AC cut-point of 1065 yielded similar accuracy for detecting an activity as less than or greater than 3 METs, regardless of age and body composition.
Conclusion: For the Actical activity monitor, an AC cut-point of 1065 can be used to determine light and moderate intensity PA in people ≥45 years of age.
Publication Info
Published in Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Volume 8, Issue 3, 2011, pages 372-381.
Rights
Hooker, S. P., Feeney, A., Hutto, B., Pfeiffer, K. A., McIver, K., Heil, D. P., ... Blair, S. N. (2011). Validation of the actical activity monitor in middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8(3), 372-381.
© Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2011, Human Kinetics