TITLE:
Counting Steps in Research: A Comparison of Accelerometry and Pedometry
AUTHORS:
Melody Oliver, Hannah M Badland, Janine Shepherd, Grant M Schofield
KEYWORDS:
Physical activity; Measurement; Pedometer; Inclinometer; Accelerometer; Validation; Reliability
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.1 No.1,
May
25,
2011
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to assess the validity of the step count functions in Actical accelerometers and activPAL inclinometers, compared with pedome-ter-derived step count data. Firstly, directly observed step counts over 3 treadmill speeds were compared with steps collected from 3 pedometers, accelerometers, and inclinometers in 10 adults. Secondly, step count data were derived from 22 participants who wore a pedome-ter, accelerometer, and inclinometer over 48 hours. Agreement between measurement tools was determined. All monitors appropriately measured steps in the labo-ratory conditions. In free living conditions, the mean percentage differences with pedometer-determined step counts were -7.3% and 7.0% for the Actical and ac-tivPAL monitors, respectively. With the exception of slow walking for the Actical units (ICC