Raw triaxial wrist accelerometer-measured physical activity in mid-age Australian adults

Abstract

Background: Raw accelerometry data can provide valuable insights into specific attributes of physical activity, such as time spent in intensity-specific activity. The aim of this study was to describe physical activity assessed with raw triaxial wrist-worn accelerometers in mid-age Australian adults.Methods: Data were from a sub-sample of a population–based cohort of mid-age adults living in Brisbane, Australia (N=767). Participants (mean age: 60.4; SD:7.1 years) wore a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) on the non-dominant wrist during waking hours for seven consecutive days. Data were included if wear time was at least 600 min/day over at least four days (n=700). Total physical activity, expressed as acceleration in gravitational equivalent units (1mg=0.001g), and time spent in moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA; >100 mg) using different bout criteria (non-bouted, 1-, 5-, and 10-min bouts) were calculated. Results: Mean acceleration was 23.2 mg (SD: 7.5) and did not vary by gender (men: 22.4; women: 23.7; p-value: 0.073) or education (p-value: 0.375). On average, mean acceleration was 10% (2.5 mg) lower per decade of age from age 55y. The median durations in non-bouted, 1-min, 5-min and 10-min MVPA bouts were, respectively, 68 (25th-75th: 45-99), 26 (25th-75th: 12-46), 10 (25th-75th: 3-24) and 8 (25th-75th: 0-19) min/day.Conclusion: This is one of the first population-based cohort studies to provide a detailed description of raw accelerometer physical activity in mid-age adults in Australia. Such data can be used to investigate how different patterns and intensities of physical activity vary across the day/week and influence health outcomes.

Pain management in advanced cancer: physical activity as an outcome – accelerometer feasibility study

“…As expected, the daily average of active time is lower than the average healthy adult population (209 min/day), 10 and the average step count (5723.69) is consistent with prior studies. 11 Most of the activity was low intensity activity, and about half that of the healthy population (141 min/day).…”

“…As expected, the daily average of active time is lower than the average healthy adult population (209 min/day),10 and the average step count (5723.69) is consistent with prior studies 11. Most of the activity was low intensity activity, and about half that of the healthy population (141 min/day) 10. Interestingly some participants had higher than average activity despite their disease state, living very active lives despite their pain and symptoms.…”

“… 11 Most of the activity was low intensity activity, and about half that of the healthy population (141 min/day). 10 Interestingly some participants had higher than average activity despite their disease state, living very active lives despite their pain and symptoms. Importantly, while the average activity is low, it was possible to capture this accurately using the accelerometer.…”