Calibration and Cross-Validation of Accelerometery for Estimating Movement Skills in Children Aged 8–12 Years

Abstract

(1) Background: This study sought to calibrate triaxial accelerometery, worn on both wrists, waist and both ankles, during children’s physical activity (PA), with particular attention to object control motor skills performed at a fast and slow cadence, and to cross-validate the accelerometer cut-points derived from the calibration using an independent dataset. (2) Methods: Twenty boys (10.1 ±1.5 years) undertook seven, five-minute bouts of activity lying supine, standing, running (4.5kmph−1) instep passing a football (fast and slow cadence), dribbling a football (fast and slow cadence), whilst wearing five GENEActiv accelerometers on their non-dominant and dominant wrists and ankles and waist. VO2 was assessed concurrently using indirect calorimetry. ROC curve analysis was used to generate cut-points representing sedentary, light and moderate PA. The cut-points were then cross-validated using independent data from 30 children (9.4 ± 1.4 years), who had undertaken similar activities whilst wearing accelerometers and being assessed for VO2. (3) Results: GENEActiv monitors were able to discriminate sedentary activity to an excellent level irrespective of wear location. For moderate PA, discrimination of activity was considered good for monitors placed on the dominant wrist, waist, non-dominant and dominant ankles but fair for the non-dominant wrist. Applying the cut-points to the cross-validation sample indicated that cut-points validated in the calibration were able to successfully discriminate sedentary behaviour and moderate PA to an excellent standard and light PA to a fair standard. (4) Conclusions: Cut-points derived from this calibration demonstrate an excellent ability to discriminate children’s sedentary behaviour and moderate intensity PA comprising motor skill activity.

Exploration: an overarching focus for holistic development

“…However, research noting its impact on positive developmental trajectories in other domains (e.g., physical health, cognition, self-concept, social-emotional development) across childhood and adolescence has received significant attention only recently. 31,32 Higher levels of movement skill are related not only to acute health-enhancing energy expenditure, [33][34][35] but also to long-term physical activity, 31,36 fitness, 37,38 self-concept 39 and weight status trajectories 37,40 across childhood and adolescence. Additional research is needed to understand potential differences in antecedent/consequent mechanisms that may change across time as psychological and cognitive processes involved in the development of coordination and control may have differing levels of influence based on age-related windows within the developmental continuum.…”

Relationship between Asymmetry Indices, Anthropometric Parameters, and Physical Fitness in Obese and Non-Obese High School Students

“…Individuals with anterior left/right asymmetries greater than 4 cm on the YBT were 2.5 times more likely to sustain a lower extremity injury [ 10 ]. Jumping abilities are recognized as some of the key fundamental movement skills required for students to lead physically active lives [ 11 ]. Motor deficits of overweight students are most pronounced in skills that require lifting [ 12 ] or propelling the body against gravity [ 13 ].…”

Accelerometer Cut-Points for Physical Activity Assessment in Adults with Mild to Moderate Huntington’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study

“…These activity monitors have also been validated by indirect calorimetry and calibrated in metabolic activity equivalents (METs). Several investigations have been conducted with different populations to analyze the relationship between counts per minute and energy expenditure [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. These studies aimed to estimate energy expenditure for physical activity and time spent at various absolute intensities of physical activity (light, moderate and vigorous) to establish specific cut-points.…”