The Dilemma of Analyzing Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Wrist Accelerometer Data: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Physical behaviors (e.g., physical activity and sedentary behavior) have been the focus among many researchers in the biomedical and behavioral science fields. The recent shift from hip- to wrist-worn accelerometers in these fields has signaled the need to develop novel approaches to process raw acceleration data of physical activity and sedentary behavior. However, there is currently no consensus regarding the best practices for analyzing wrist-worn accelerometer data to accurately predict individuals’ energy expenditure and the times spent in different intensities of free-living physical activity and sedentary behavior. To this end, accurately analyzing and interpreting wrist-worn accelerometer data has become a major challenge facing many clinicians and researchers. In response, this paper attempts to review different methodologies for analyzing wrist-worn accelerometer data and offer cutting edge, yet appropriate analysis plans for wrist-worn accelerometer data in the assessment of physical behavior. In this paper, we first discuss the fundamentals of wrist-worn accelerometer data, followed by various methods of processing these data (e.g., cut points, steps per minute, machine learning), and then we discuss the opportunities, challenges, and directions for future studies in this area of inquiry. This is the most comprehensive review paper to date regarding the analysis and interpretation of free-living physical activity data derived from wrist-worn accelerometers, aiming to help establish a blueprint for processing wrist-derived accelerometer data.

Examining Relationships among Chinese Preschool Children’s Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Fundamental Movement Skills

“…Finally, we encountered some difficulties when using the accelerometers to objectively measure sleep duration in young children in the present study. A major challenge is that some children thought that wearing the ActiGragh accelerometers on the right hip during sleep would cause discomfort [ 63 ]; thus, we recorded the sleep duration via questionnaire. Researchers may use objective instruments to record preschool children’s sleep duration in the future.…”

Evaluating Outdoor Nature-Based Early Learning and Childcare Provision for Children Aged 3 Years: Protocol of a Feasibility and Pilot Quasi-Experimental Design

“…Preliminary piloting of the Axivity devices with a small sample of 3-year-olds for 3 days has found high levels of acceptability and compliance. Children will be asked to wear the activity monitor on their non-dominant wrist to limit miscalculated activity counts during sedentary behaviours (e.g., drawing, writing, and playing on mobile electronic devices) [ 57 ]. The devices will be configured to record raw acceleration data using Open Movement GUI (OMGUI, V1.0.0.43).…”

Historical development of accelerometry measures and methods for physical activity and sedentary behavior research worldwide: A scoping review of observational studies of adults

“…“Accelerometry” refers to device-based motion sensors that provide detailed movement information by capturing changes in a person’s gravitational acceleration in space [ 1 ]. The first accelerometers, developed in the 1920’s, weighed about one pound and measured the vibration of aircraft and large structures such as bridges [ 2 ].…”

“…Researchers began adopting accelerometry as an indicator of physical activity in the 1980’s, and Troiano et al [ 5 ] estimated that they have been used in epidemiologic studies for research and surveillance since the mid-1990’s. A number of technologic advances in accelerometry sensors occurred since the 1990’s, including increased storage, longer battery life, wider acceleration range, waterproofing, and smaller size [ 1 , 5 ]. These technologic advances, along with the relative improvement in cost and validity over time of the device to represent physical activity and sedentary behavior, contributed to subsequent rise in the application of the device by researchers.…”