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Selected Works of Max Bulsara
Article
Measurement of children's physical activity using a pedometer with a built-in memory
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (2013)
  • Georgina Trapp, The University of Western Australia
  • Billie Giles-Corti, University of Western Australia
  • Max Bulsara, The University of Notre Dame Australia
  • Hayley Christian, The University of Western Australia
  • Anna Timperio, Deakin University
  • Gavin McCormack, The University of Western Australia
  • Karen Villanueva, The University of Western Australia
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Abstract
Objectives:We evaluated the accuracy of the Accusplit AH120 pedometer (built-in memory) for recording
step counts of children during treadmill walking against (1) observer counted steps and (2) concurrently
measured steps using the previously validated Yamax Digiwalker SW-700 pedometer.
Design: This was a cross-sectional validation study performed under controlled settings.
Methods: Forty five 9–12-year-olds walked on treadmills at speeds of 42, 66 and 90 m/min to simulate
slow, moderate and fast walking wearing Accusplit and Yamax pedometers concurrently on their right
hip. Observer counted steps were captured by video camera and manually counted. Absolute value of
percent error was calculated for each comparison. Bland–Altman plots were constructed to show the
distribution of the individual (criterion-comparison) scores around zero.
Results: Both pedometers under-recorded observer counted steps at all three walk speeds. Absolute value
of percent error was highest at the slowest walk speed (Accusplit = 46.9%; Yamax = 44.1%) and lowest
at the fastest walk speed (Accusplit = 8.6%; Yamax = 8.9%). Bland–Altman plots showed high agreement
between the pedometers for all three walk speeds.
Conclusions: Using pedometers with built-in memory capabilities eliminates the need for children to
manually log step counts daily, potentially improving data accuracy and completeness. Step counts from
the Accusplit (built-in memory) and Yamax (widely used) pedometers were comparable across all speeds,
but their level of accuracy was dependent on walking pace. Pedometers should be used with caution in
children as they significantly undercount steps, and this error is greatest at slower walk speeds.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
DOI
10.1016/j.jsams.2012.06.011
Citation Information
Trapp, G., Giles-Corti, B., Bulsara, M., Christian, H., Timperio, A., McCormack, G., and Villanueva, K. (2013). Measurement of children's physical activity using a pedometer with a built-in memory. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 16(3), 222-226. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2012.06.011