Validation of the Phillips et al. GENEActiv accelerometer wrist cut-points in children aged 5–8 years old

Abstract

The Phillips et al. (2013) cut-points for the GENEActiv accelerometer can be used in children aged 5-8 years old to distinguish sedentary behaviour, moderate and vigorous PA behaviour. What is Known: • Accelerometers are fast becoming the most widely used measure of physical activity in public health research. • The GENEActive wrist worn accelerometer has been validated for use with children aged 8 years and older What is New: • The GENEActive wrist worn accelerometer can be used to assess physical activity in children aged 5-8 years old. • Previously established cut-points for the GENEActiv accelerometer can be used in children aged 5-8 years old to distinguish sedentary behaviour, moderate and vigorous PA behaviour.

Calibration of GENEActiv accelerometer wrist cut-points for the assessment of physical activity intensity of preschool aged children

“…Therefore, assessing different activities, for example weight bearing and free-living activities may produce varied results. Additionally, there may have been the possibility, although unlikely, of an order effect where fatigue from earlier activities could have influenced later activities [6]. Finally, as the pre-schoolers moved from one station to another, it may be appropriate to readdress the 'transition' time for future research to prevent any carry-over effect in the oxygen uptake between activities.…”

“…Participants wore a paediatric face mask (Hans Rudolph, Kansas, USA), which was attached using a head strap. Breath-by-breath oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide expenditure (VCO2) and subsequent determination of EE were analysed using the Metamax 3B analyser (Cortex Bio physik, Leipzig, Germany) via established methods [6,10,12] and recognised SI units to validate the cut-points. Respiratory volume was calibrated using a 3L syringe.…”

“…The children did not wear a harness, therefore there was no extra carriage in terms of locomotion. This in-depth familiarisation process, followed similar protocols employed with paediatric samples [6,10,12]. After briefing about the testing protocol, participants were fitted with the GENEActiv accelerometers and the face mask.…”

“…Although the GENEActiv accelerometer has been validated as a PA measurement tool [8] few studies have examined its utility with paediatric samples and none have calibrated its use in pre-schoolers. Phillips [16] have validated cut-points for sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous PA using the GENEActiv accelerometers, for 8-14 year olds and recently, Duncan [6] cross-validated these cut-points for 5-8 year olds. While the validity of the GENEActiv accelerometer is unlikely to change in pre-schoolers, the development of preschool population specific cut points for the GENEActiv accelerometer is crucial to better quantify PA.…”

“…kg -1. min -1 ) [2]. Indirect calorimetry has been employed to determine MET values and to establish accelerometer cut points in children [6,10,12].…”