Validation of an Electronic Step Counter for the Assessment of Physical Activity

Résumé du livre

In order to advance research on the health benefits of physical activity and to promote physical activity in the population, better methods need to be developed to measure physical activity. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the Digi-Walker pedometer (Yamax, Tokyo, Japan) and objective records from an accelerometry-based activity monitor (Actitrac; Individual Monitoring Systems, Inc., Baltimore, MD). Specifically, the study examined the correlations between the Digi-Walker pedometer step counts and the Actitrac accelerometer counts under structured and free-living conditions. The study also compared the accuracy of the energy expenditure estimates from the Digi-Walker pedometer against the Actitrac accelerometer. In the structured phase, 100 participants wore a Digi-Walker pedometer and Actitrac accelerometer while walking 3000 m on a track. Under the free-living condition, participants wore both monitors for a 24 h period during normal activity. For the structured phase, Digi-Walker pedometer step counts and Actitrac accelerometer counts were not related (r = -0.09).