Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Intra‐ and Inter‐Instrument Reliability of the Actiwatch 4 Accelerometer in a Mechanical Laboratory Setting

Routen, A.C.; Upton, D.; Edwards, M.G.; Peters, D.M.

Intra‐ and Inter‐Instrument Reliability of the Actiwatch 4 Accelerometer in a Mechanical Laboratory Setting Thumbnail


Authors

A.C. Routen

D. Upton

M.G. Edwards

D.M. Peters



Abstract

This study aimed to quantify the intra-and inter-instrument reliability of the Actiwatch 4 accelerometer (AW4) in a mechanical setting. Twenty seven AW4 were attached to an isokinetic dynamometer and subjected to angular acceleration for 30 min at 50 deg/sec representing moderate intensity (MPA condition) and 200 deg/sec representing vigorous intensity (VPA condition), with a repeat trial conducted. Reliability was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV), absolute percent error (APE), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Mean AW4 activity counts displayed acceptable reliability according to CV in both conditions (ConMPA: CVintra = 4.6%, APEintra = 6.6%, CVinter = 6.4%, APEinter = 5.2%; ConVPA: CVintra = 3.9%, APEintra = 5.6%, CVinter = 5.9%, APEinter = 4.7%). When counts were re-categorised into minutes of MPA and VPA, lower CV values were observed (ConMPA: CVintra = 3.2%, APEintra = 4.5%, CVinter = 4.3%, APEinter = 3.2%; ConVPA: CVintra = 0.0%, APEintra = 0.0%, CVinter = 0.0%, APEinter = 0.0%). When activity counts were re-categorised as minutes of MVPA, excellent reliability was observed (CVintra, APEintra, CVinter, and APEinter = 0.0%) in both conditions. Mean AW4 activity counts exhibit reliability statistics comparable to other accelerometers. Reliability is improved when activity counts are re-categorised as time spent in MPA and VPA, with greatest reliability obtained when counts are recategorised as time spent in MVPA. As MVPA is the subcomponent of physical activity most associated with health benefits it would appear that the AW4 is reliable for measuring time spent in this health enhancing intensity category, at least from testing in a mechanical laboratory setting.

Citation

Routen, A., Upton, D., Edwards, M., & Peters, D. (2012). Intra‐ and Inter‐Instrument Reliability of the Actiwatch 4 Accelerometer in a Mechanical Laboratory Setting. Journal of Human Kinetics, 31(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-012-0002-z

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Apr 1, 2012
Deposit Date Feb 8, 2013
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Human Kinetics
Electronic ISSN 1899-7562
Publisher Sciendo
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 31
Issue 1
Pages 17-24
DOI https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-012-0002-z
Keywords Physical activity, Monitor, Measurement, Repeatability, Accelerometer.

Files

Published Journal Article (506 Kb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
The final publication is available at www.degruyter.com




You might also like



Downloadable Citations