Calibration of accelerometer output for ambulatory adults with multiple sclerosis.

Full Abstract

Motl RW, Snook EM, Agiovlasitis S, Suh Y. Calibration of accelerometer output for ambulatory adults with multiple sclerosis. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between the rates of accelerometer activity counts and energy expenditure during walking in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) versus controls and then to calibrate the output of accelerometers for computing time spent in light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity based on common metabolic equivalent unit categories in persons with MS. DESIGN: Mixed-model design. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: People with MS (n=24) and people without MS (n=24) who were similar in age, sex, height, and weight. INTERVENTIONS: The participants undertook three 6-minute periods of walking at 3.2, 4.8, and 6.4km.h(-1) on a motor-driven treadmill. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activity counts and energy expenditure were measured with an accelerometer worn on the right hip and open-circuit spirometry, respectively. RESULTS: The results indicated that (1) persons with MS had greater energy expenditure, but not activity counts, during walking on a treadmill than did controls; (2) there was a strong linear relationship between activity counts and energy expenditure during treadmill walking, but the slope of the relationship was steeper in persons with MS than in controls; and (3) the cut-points for light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity were lower in persons with MS than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Such findings provide evidence for a strong linear relationship between activity counts and energy expenditure during walking in persons with MS and cut-points based on counts per minute for quantifying time spent in light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity using accelerometers in this population.

Author information

Author/s: Motl, Robert W (RW); Snook, Erin M (EM); Agiovlasitis, Stamatis (S); Suh, Yoojin (Y);

Affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA. robmotl(-atsign-)uiuc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 90 (issue 10) : pp 1778-84

Dates: Created 2009/10/05; Completed 2009/10/22;

PMID: 19801071, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/22/2009, IMS Date: )

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