Calibration of hip accelerometers for measuring physical activity and sedentary behaviours in adults with Down syndrome.
S Agiovlasitis, B K Ballenger, E E Schultz and 2 others
PMID 36514268WHAT IT FOUND
Researchers derived new accelerometer settings for adults with Down syndrome.
Using standard settings from the general population likely underestimates their activity levels. These new cut-points classify sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous activity with high accuracy, though they differ slightly depending on which hip the device is worn.
Key findings
01New cut-points for sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were derived for adults with Down syndrome using hip-worn accelerometers.
02These new cut-points differ from those used for the general population, suggesting previous studies may have underestimated activity levels in this group.
03There were small differences in the optimal cut-points between the dominant and non-dominant hip.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (16 participants) and drawn from a specific rural area, so results may not apply to all adults with Down syndrome. The cut-points were not validated in a separate group of people with Down syndrome. The study did not provide cut-points for vigorous-intensity activity because the participants did not reach that level during the tasks. The activities were performed in a lab setting and some were externally paced, which may not reflect how people move in their daily lives.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these cut-points work for other types of accelerometers. They are specific to the Actigraph triaxial model tested. Also, note that the values differ slightly between the left and right hip, so consistency in device placement is required for accurate tracking.