Validity of consumer activity monitors and an algorithm using smartphone data for measuring steps during different activity types

Hartung V, Sarshar M, Karle V, Shammas L, Rashid A, Roullier P, Eilers C, Mäurer M, Flachenecker P, Pfeifer K, Tallner A (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Book Volume: 17

Pages Range: 1-16

Article Number: 9314

Journal Issue: 24

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249314

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Verena Hartung Lehrstuhl für Sportwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung und Gesundheit Klaus Pfeifer Lehrstuhl für Sportwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung und Gesundheit Alexander Tallner Lehrstuhl für Sportwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung und Gesundheit

Involved external institutions

Klinikum Würzburg Mitte DE Germany (DE) Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik (IBMT) / Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering DE Germany (DE) Universität Regensburg DE Germany (DE) Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hartung, V., Sarshar, M., Karle, V., Shammas, L., Rashid, A., Roullier, P.,... Tallner, A. (2020). Validity of consumer activity monitors and an algorithm using smartphone data for measuring steps during different activity types. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 1-16. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249314

MLA:

Hartung, Verena, et al. "Validity of consumer activity monitors and an algorithm using smartphone data for measuring steps during different activity types." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17.24 (2020): 1-16.

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