Citation

Fulk GD, Combs SA, Danks KA, Nirider CD, Raja B, Reisman DS. Phys. Ther. 2014; 94(2): 222-229.

Affiliation

G.D. Fulk, PT, PhD, Physical Therapy Department, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Ave, Potsdam, NY 13699 (USA).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Physical Therapy Association)

DOI

10.2522/ptj.20120525

PMID

24052577

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Advances in sensor technologies and signal processing techniques provide a method to accurately measure walking activity in the home and community. Activity monitors geared towards consumer/patient use may be an alternative to more expensive monitors designed for research to measure stepping activity.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the accuracy of two consumer/patient activity monitors, the FitBit (FB) and Nike+ Fuelband (Nike+) in identifying stepping activity in people with stroke and TBI. Secondarily, we sought to compare the accuracy of these two activity monitors to the StepWatch Activity Monitor (SAM) and a pedometer, theYamax SW701 Digi-Walker Pedometer (YDWP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

METHODS: Individuals with chronic stroke and TBI wore the four activity monitors while they performed a 2-minute walk test (2MWT) during which they were videotaped. Activity monitor estimated steps taken were compared to actual steps taken counted from videotape. Accuracy and agreement between activity monitor estimated steps and actual steps were examined using ICC2,1 and Bland Altman technique.

RESULTS: SAM demonstrated the greatest accuracy (ICC2,1=0.97, mean difference between actual steps and SAM estimated steps=4.7) followed by the FB (ICC2,1=0.73, mean difference between actual steps and FB estimated steps=-9.7), the YDWP (ICC2,1=0.42, mean difference between actual steps and YDWP estimated steps= -28.8), and the Nike+ (ICC2,1 =0.20, mean difference between actual steps and Nike+ estimated steps=-66.2). LIMITATIONS: Walking activity was measured over a short distance in a closed environment and participants were high functioning ambulators, mean gait speed of 0.93 m/s.

CONCLUSIONS: The FB may be a low cost alternative to measure the stepping activity on level, predictable environments of people with stroke and TBI who can walk at speeds ≥0.58 m/s.

Language: en