Elsevier

Preventive Medicine

Volume 48, Issue 2, February 2009, Pages 108-114
Preventive Medicine

Review
Review of physical activity measurement using accelerometers in older adults: Considerations for research design and conduct

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.12.001Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

Accelerometers are being increasingly used in studies of physical activity (PA) among older adults, however the use of these monitors requires some specialized knowledge and up-to-date information on technological innovations. The purpose of this review article is to provide researchers with a guide to some commonly-used accelerometers in order to better design and conduct PA research with older adults.

Methods

A literature search was conducted to obtain all available literature on commonly-used accelerometers in older adult samples with specific attention to articles discussing research design.

Results

The use of accelerometers in older adults requires a basic understanding of the type being used, rationale for their placement, and attention to calibration when needed. The updated technology in some monitors should make study conduct less difficult, however comparison studies of the newer versus the older generation models will be needed.

Conclusions

Careful considerations for design and conduct of accelerometer research as outlined in this review should help to enhance the quality and comparability of future research studies.

Section snippets

Physical activity measurement

Physical activity is often assessed using self-report measures. These measures are easy to administer and can provide information on the types of activities performed, but may not capture activity patterns throughout the day (Davis and Fox, 2007). Some measures also include calculations to estimate energy expenditure based on the duration and frequency of reported activity participation (Dipietro et al., 1993, Stewart et al., 2001). However, there are some disadvantages to using self-report

Choosing an accelerometer

Table 3 lists some general considerations for choosing an accelerometer for use in studies with older adults. Mathie et al. (2004) state that there are three types of monitoring that researchers may be interested in which affects the choice of monitor: clinical assessment (such as a one-time assessment of a participant in their home environment), event monitoring (such as fall events), and longitudinal monitoring of general or specific movements. In addition, monitors like the Actiwatch-Score

Summary

The use of accelerometers in physical activity and older adult research has grown substantially in recent years. This article sought to provide a guide to the body of literature outlining use of these devices and update information on the recent technological advances that affect PA measurement. Careful considerations for design and conduct of accelerometer research will enhance the quality and comparability of future research studies.

Conflict of interest

The author reports no financial conflicts with any of the companies listed in this manuscript.

Acknowledgments

Dr. Murphy is a currently the recipient of Academic Award K01HD045293 from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research. I thank James Strasburg, Janice Chen, and Jessica Koliba for their assistance with gathering information on different monitors and Angela Lyden for reading earlier drafts of this article.

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