These Shoes Are Made for Walking: Sensitivity Performance Evaluation of Commercial Activity Monitors under the Expected Conditions and Circumstances Required to Achieve the International Daily Step Goal of 10,000 Steps

O’Connell, Sandra; ÓLaighin, Gearóid; Kelly, Lisa; Murphy, Elaine; Beirne, Sorcha; Burke, Niall; Kilgannon, Orlaith; Quinlan, Leo R.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154956

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…All studies using devices from Misfit, Polar, Withings, Mio, Samsung, PulseOn, TomTom, and Xiaomi were validation or reliability studies. Misfit devices were used in 12 studies [ 9 , 36 , 42 , 43 , 46 , 61 - 63 , 85 , 95 - 97 ]; Polar devices were used in 6 studies [ 36 , 43 , 46 , 62 , 98 , 99 ]; Withings [ 63 , 85 , 89 , 100 , 101 ], Mio [ 29 , 30 , 54 , 102 , 103 ], and Samsung [ 29 , 30 , 58 , 62 , 96 ] devices were used in 5 studies; PulseOn devices were used in 4 studies [ 29 , 104 - 106 ]; TomTom devices were used in 2 studies [ 54 , 79 ]; and Xiaomi devices were used in 1 study [ 96 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches to Measure Physical Activity in Research: Analysis of Consumer Wrist-Worn Wearables

et al. 2018

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BackgroundNew fitness trackers and smartwatches are released to the consumer market every year. These devices are equipped with different sensors, algorithms, and accompanying mobile apps. With recent advances in mobile sensor technology, privately collected physical activity data can be used as an addition to existing methods for health data collection in research. Furthermore, data collected from these devices have possible applications in patient diagnostics and treatment. With an increasing number of diverse brands, there is a need for an overview of device sensor support, as well as device applicability in research projects.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the availability of wrist-worn fitness wearables and analyze availability of relevant fitness sensors from 2011 to 2017. Furthermore, the study was designed to assess brand usage in research projects, compare common brands in terms of developer access to collected health data, and features to consider when deciding which brand to use in future research.MethodsWe searched for devices and brand names in six wearable device databases. For each brand, we identified additional devices on official brand websites. The search was limited to wrist-worn fitness wearables with accelerometers, for which we mapped brand, release year, and supported sensors relevant for fitness tracking. In addition, we conducted a Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and ClinicalTrials search to determine brand usage in research projects. Finally, we investigated developer accessibility to the health data collected by identified brands.ResultsWe identified 423 unique devices from 132 different brands. Forty-seven percent of brands released only one device. Introduction of new brands peaked in 2014, and the highest number of new devices was introduced in 2015. Sensor support increased every year, and in addition to the accelerometer, a photoplethysmograph, for estimating heart rate, was the most common sensor. Out of the brands currently available, the five most often used in research projects are Fitbit, Garmin, Misfit, Apple, and Polar. Fitbit is used in twice as many validation studies as any other brands and is registered in ClinicalTrials studies 10 times as often as other brands.ConclusionsThe wearable landscape is in constant change. New devices and brands are released every year, promising improved measurements and user experience. At the same time, other brands disappear from the consumer market for various reasons. Advances in device quality offer new opportunities for research. However, only a few well-established brands are frequently used in research projects, and even less are thoroughly validated.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches to Measure Physical Activity in Research: Analysis of Consumer Wrist-Worn Wearables

et al. 2018

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“…actual steps taken. Previously, we have shown a number of physical activity monitors to be sensitive in step detection when actively walking over a variety of surfaces and in different types of footwear, while reaching the recommended daily 10,000 step goal [12]. However, our previous work focused on the performance of the activity monitors during purposeful stepping only.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We found all devices tested to be sensitive in step detection, with a mean absolute percentage error ranging from 1.36% to 4.61% for the four activity monitors tested [12]. However, while this is a very important factor to consider in assessing the performance of an activity monitor, it is equally critical that the activity-monitors are not just sensitive but also specific in their capacity to monitor actual steps performed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When a Step Is Not a Step! Specificity Analysis of Five Physical Activity Monitors

2017

Self Cite

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IntroductionPhysical activity is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle for both physical and mental health states. As step count is one of the most utilized measures for quantifying physical activity it is important that activity-monitoring devices be both sensitive and specific in recording actual steps taken and disregard non-stepping body movements. The objective of this study was to assess the specificity of five activity monitors during a variety of prescribed non-stepping activities.MethodsParticipants wore five activity monitors simultaneously for a variety of prescribed activities including deskwork, taking an elevator, taking a bus journey, automobile driving, washing and drying dishes; functional reaching task; indoor cycling; outdoor cycling; and indoor rowing. Each task was carried out for either a specific duration of time or over a specific distance. Activity monitors tested were the ActivPAL micro™, NL-2000™ pedometer, Withings Smart Activity Monitor Tracker (Pulse O2)™, Fitbit One™ and Jawbone UP™. Participants were video-recorded while carrying out the prescribed activities and the false positive step count registered on each activity monitor was obtained and compared to the video.ResultsAll activity monitors registered a significant number of false positive steps per minute during one or more of the prescribed activities. The Withings™ activity performed best, registering a significant number of false positive steps per minute during the outdoor cycling activity only (P = 0.025). The Jawbone™ registered a significant number of false positive steps during the functional reaching task and while washing and drying dishes, which involved arm and hand movement (P < 0.01 for both). The ActivPAL™ registered a significant number of false positive steps during the cycling exercises (P < 0.001 for both).ConclusionAs a number of false positive steps were registered on the activity monitors during the non-stepping activities, the authors conclude that non-stepping physical activities can result in the false detection of steps. This can negatively affect the quantification of physical activity with regard to step count as an output. The Withings™ activity monitor performed best with regard to specificity during the activities of daily living tested.

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“…This type of device appears to be a reliable tool to report the number of steps taken. 23 , 24 The WPAT uses a triaxial accelerometer to assess multi-plane movement. To ensure habitual movement patterns were assessed, only participants who had sufficient monitoring data were included in our analysis, which included having a minimum of 10 days of tracker wearing time, as defined by at least 500 steps a day, per month.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-Sectional and longitudinal associations of objectively-measured physical activity on blood pressure: evaluation in 37 countries

Menai¹,

Brouard²,

Vegreville³

et al. 2017

Health Promot Perspect

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Background: We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of objectively-measured physical activity (step counts) and blood pressure (BP) among adults spanning 37 countries.Methods: Across 37 countries, we used data from a pool of 9238 adult owners of Withings’ Pulse activity trackers, which measures steps taken each day, and Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor, which measures BP. Analyses were adjusted on age, sex, number of days where the tracker was worn, and number of BP measurements. Data was collected from 2009 to 2013.Results: Subjects had a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 51.6 ± 11.3 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 28.7±5.5 kg/m2. A 1-month increase of more than 3000 steps per day was associated with a decrease of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) among the obese (1.57mm Hg and 1.29 mm Hg respectively, both P<0.001) and the overweight population (0.79 mm Hg and 0.84 mm Hg respectively, both P≤0.001), but not in the normal weight population (P=0.60 and P=0.36 respectively).Conclusion: One-month increases in daily step counts was associated with a decrease of SBP and DBP in a large obese and overweight free living population.

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These Shoes Are Made for Walking: Sensitivity Performance Evaluation of Commercial Activity Monitors under the Expected Conditions and Circumstances Required to Achieve the International Daily Step Goal of 10,000 Steps

Cited by 26 publications

References 34 publications

Using Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches to Measure Physical Activity in Research: Analysis of Consumer Wrist-Worn Wearables

Using Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches to Measure Physical Activity in Research: Analysis of Consumer Wrist-Worn Wearables

When a Step Is Not a Step! Specificity Analysis of Five Physical Activity Monitors

Cross-Sectional and longitudinal associations of objectively-measured physical activity on blood pressure: evaluation in 37 countries

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