Evaluating walking intensity with hip-worn accelerometers in elders

• Autores: Duane B. Corbett, Vincenzo Valiani, Jeffrey D. Knaggs
• Localización: Medicine & Science in Sports & exercise: Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, ISSN 0195-9131, Vol. 48, Nº. 11, 2016, págs. 2216-2221
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • AB Purpose: Accelerometer activity counts are used to objectively categorize physical activity levels. We examined the association between accelerometer activity counts and metabolic effort in older adults. Methods: Forty-five older adults (76.3 +/- 5.1 yr) completed a 400-m walk at both a usual and a rapid pace. A portable metabolic unit measured pulmonary gas exchange, whereas a hip-worn accelerometer measured activity counts. Participants were categorized as either a "slow walker" or a "fast walker" based on the threshold of 1.0 m[middle dot]s-1 during usual-pace walking. Results: Activity counts during rapid (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) but not usual-pace (r = 0.24, P = 0.11) walking were significantly associated with METs. Slow walkers attained only half the activity counts of fast walkers during each walk condition (P < 0.01), while at the same time achieving between 82% and 90% of their MET level. Conclusion: Accelerometers may misclassify the activity level of functionally impaired older adults with slow walking speed. (C) 2016 American College of Sports Medicine