Convergent validity of ActiGraph and Actical accelerometers for estimating physical activity in adults

Journal article


Duncan, Scott, Stewart, Tom, Bo Schneller, Mikkel, Godbole, Suneeta, Cain, Kelli and Kerr, Jacqueline. (2018). Convergent validity of ActiGraph and Actical accelerometers for estimating physical activity in adults. PLoS ONE. 13(6), p. Article: e0198587. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198587
AuthorsDuncan, Scott, Stewart, Tom, Bo Schneller, Mikkel, Godbole, Suneeta, Cain, Kelli and Kerr, Jacqueline
Abstract

Purpose
The aim of the present study was to examine the convergent validity of two commonly-used accelerometers for estimating time spent in various physical activity intensities in adults.

Methods
The sample comprised 37 adults (26 males) with a mean (SD) age of 37.6 (12.2) years from San Diego, USA. Participants wore ActiGraph GT3X+ and Actical accelerometers for three consecutive days. Percent agreement was used to compare time spent within four physical activity intensity categories under three counts per minute (CPM) threshold protocols: (1) using thresholds developed specifically for each accelerometer, (2) applying ActiGraph thresholds to regression-rectified Actical CPM data, and (3) developing new ‘optimal’ Actical thresholds.

Results
Using Protocol 1, the Actical estimated significantly less time spent in light (-16.3%), moderate (-2.8%), and vigorous (-0.4%) activity than the ActiGraph, but greater time spent sedentary (+20.5%). Differences were slightly more pronounced when the low frequency extension filter on the ActiGraph was enabled. The two adjustment methods (Protocols 2 and 3) improved agreement in this sample.

Conclusions
Our findings show that ActiGraph and Actical accelerometers provide significantly different estimates of time spent in various physical activity intensities. Regression and threshold adjustment were able to reduce these differences, although some level of non-agreement persisted. Researchers should be aware of the inherent limitations of count-based physical activity assessment when reporting and interpreting study findings.

Keywordsphysical activity; accelerometers; sedentary behavior; signal filtering; body weight; measurement equipment; signal processing; health care policy
Year2018
JournalPLoS ONE
Journal citation13 (6), p. Article: e0198587
PublisherPublic Library of Science
ISSN1932-6203
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198587
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85048448665
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-13
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online12 Jun 2018
Publication process dates
Accepted22 May 2018
Deposited28 Oct 2021
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8wy01/convergent-validity-of-actigraph-and-actical-accelerometers-for-estimating-physical-activity-in-adults

Download files


Publisher's version
Duncan_2018_Convergent_validity_of_ActiGraph_and_Actical.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 33
    total views
  • 20
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as