Premium
Feasibility and validity of the ActiGraph GT 3X accelerometer in measuring physical activity of Malawian toddlers
Author(s) -
Pulakka A,
Cheung YB,
Ashorn U,
Penpraze V,
Maleta K,
Phuka JC,
Ashorn P
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12412
Subject(s) - accelerometer , medicine , physical activity , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , operating system
Aim To test the feasibility and validity of the ActiGraph GT 3X accelerometer in measuring physical activity of rural Malawian toddlers. Methods Fifty‐six children aged 16.0–18.5 months wore the accelerometer on their right hip for 7 days. We analysed days with a minimum of 600 min of wear time, excluding night time and periods when the unit registered zero for 20 consecutive minutes. The first and last days were excluded as they were incomplete. Accelerometer counts were compared with coded free play video recordings to define median accelerometer counts for sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous activity. Count cut points were defined for moderate to vigorous physical activity, with predictive validity assessed using a second set of video recordings. Results Median wear time was 797 min/day, with 79% of participants completing at least four eligible days. Accelerometer counts were significantly higher for observed moderate to vigorous physical activity, than lighter activity, with cut points of 208 counts/15 sec for vector magnitude and 35 counts/15 sec for vertical axis, showing sensitivity of 94.2% and 84.1% and specificity of 90.9% and 84.6%, respectively. Conclusion The accelerometer proved a feasible and valid method of assessing physical activity among Malawian toddlers.