Acta Univ. Palacki. Olomuc., Gymn. 2008 38(2): 55-64

Validity and reliability of "step count" function of the ActiTrainer Activity Monitor under controlled conditions

Filip Neuls
Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc

When assessing human physical activity, numerous objective measuring devices, such as accelerometers, pedometers, heart rate monitors, etc. are involved. The ActiTrainer is a new multifunctional monitoring tool putting all these functions together. The main purpose of this study was to realize standardizing measures of the pedometer ("step count") function of the ActiTrainer under controlled conditions of walking and running and to contribute to the verification of the potentials of this device for physical activity assessment. Performance of the ActiTrainer as a step counter was evaluated against the actual number of steps taken during those two stages of locomotion. Reliability was estimated by: 1) comparison of two ActiTrainer units worn simultaneously on the right and left hip, and 2) comparison of the ActiTrainer with the previously verified Yamax Digiwalker SW-700 pedometer. The sample consisted of 20 volunteer subjects. All subjects covered a distance of 1 kilometer on the hard surface of a 400 meter long athletic oval in two stages (walking and running), while keeping a prescribed pace of locomotion. Each subject wore four devices (one ActiTrainer and Yamax unit on the right and on the left hip). When detecting steps under given controlled conditions, accuracy of the ActiTrainer was very high. Values of Pearson's r expressing the relationship between actual and device measured steps ranged from 0.96 to 0.97. Marginal counts of steps measured by ActiTrainer did not exceed a difference of 0.3% from the actual steps taken. Also inter-instrumental (right vs. the left side) and equivalence (ActiTrainer vs. Yamax) correlations were favorably strong. As a step counter, the ActiTrainer seems to be a promisingly accurate monitoring tool.

Keywords: Physical activity monitoring, walking, running, pedometer, accuracy

Prepublished online: January 31, 2009; Published: March 1, 2008  Show citation

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Neuls, F. (2008). Validity and reliability of "step count" function of the ActiTrainer Activity Monitor under controlled conditions. Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica, 38(2), 55-64
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