Validity of Consumer Activity Monitors and an Algorithm Using Smartphone Data for Measuring Steps during Different Activity Types

Verena Hartung, Mustafa Sarshar, Viktoria Karle, Layal Shammas, Asarnusch Rashid, Paul Roullier, Caroline Eilers, Mathias Mäurer, Peter Flachenecker, Klaus Pfeifer and Alexander Tallner
Additional contact information
Verena Hartung: Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Mustafa Sarshar: Department of Sport Science, Division of Health and Physical Activity, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
Viktoria Karle: Department of Education, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
Layal Shammas: Zentrum für Telemedizin Bad Kissingen, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany
Asarnusch Rashid: Zentrum für Telemedizin Bad Kissingen, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany
Paul Roullier: Zentrum für Telemedizin Bad Kissingen, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany
Caroline Eilers: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Würzburg Mitte gGmbH, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
Mathias Mäurer: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Würzburg Mitte gGmbH, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
Peter Flachenecker: Neurological Rehabilitation Center Quellenhof, 75323 Bad Wildbad, Germany
Klaus Pfeifer: Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Alexander Tallner: Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: Background : Consumer activity monitors and smartphones have gained relevance for the assessment and promotion of physical activity. The aim of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of various consumer activity monitor models and smartphone models for measuring steps. Methods : Participants completed three activity protocols: (1) overground walking with three different speeds (comfortable, slow, fast), (2) activities of daily living (ADLs) focusing on arm movements, and (3) intermittent walking. Participants wore 11 activity monitors (wrist: 8; hip: 2; ankle: 1) and four smartphones (hip: 3; calf: 1). Observed steps served as the criterion measure. The mean average percentage error (MAPE) was calculated for each device and protocol. Results : Eighteen healthy adults participated in the study (age: 28.8 ± 4.9 years). MAPEs ranged from 0.3–38.2% during overground walking, 48.2–861.2% during ADLs, and 11.2–47.3% during intermittent walking. Wrist-worn activity monitors tended to misclassify arm movements as steps. Smartphone data collected at the hip, analyzed with a separate algorithm, performed either equally or even superiorly to the research-grade ActiGraph. Conclusion : This study highlights the potential of smartphones for physical activity measurement. Measurement inaccuracies during intermittent walking and arm movements should be considered when interpreting study results and choosing activity monitors for evaluation purposes.

Keywords: accelerometer; accuracy; activity trackers; smartphone; validation study; walking; activities of daily living (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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