Farina, Nicolas and Lowry, Ruth G (2017) The validity of consumer-level activity monitors in healthy older adults in free-living conditions. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 26 (1). pp. 128-135. ISSN 1063-8652

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Abstract

Consumer-level activity monitors, such as Fitbit and Misfit devices, are a popular and low-cost means of measuring physical activity. This study aims to compare the accuracy of step counts from two consumer-level activity monitors against two reference devices in healthy, community dwelling older adults in free-living conditions. Twenty-five older adults (aged 65-84) simultaneously wore 5 devices (e.g. Misfit Shine and Fitbit Charge HR) over 7 consecutive days. All consumer-level activity monitors positively correlated with reference devices (p<0.001). There was also substantial to near perfect agreement between all consumer-level activity monitors and reference devices. Compared to the Actigraph GT3X+, the waist worn Misfit Shine displayed the highest agreement amongst the devices worn (ICC=0.96, 95% 0.91 to 0.99). The wrist worn devices showed poorer agreement to reference devices. Future research needs to consider that not all consumer-level activity monitors are equal in terms of accuracy, design and function.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	physical activity, accuracy, accelerometer, Fitbit, Misfit, older adults
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Neuroscience
Subjects:	R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology > RM0695 Physical medicine. Physical therapy Including massage, exercise, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, thermotherapy, electrotherapy T Technology > T Technology (General)
Depositing User:	Nicolas Farina
Date Deposited:	24 May 2017 15:06
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2018 14:46
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/68220

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