Comparison of ActiGraph cut-points for predicting physical activity intensity in preschool children

Background:The purposes of this study were 1) to establish accelerometer count cutoffs to categorize activity intensity of 3 to 5-y old-children and 2) to evaluate the accelerometer as a measure of children’s physical activity in preschool settings.Methods:While wearing an ActiGraph accelerometer, 16 preschool children performed five, 3-min structured activities. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses identified count cutoffs for four physical activity intensities. In 9 preschools, 281 children wore an ActiGraph during observations performed by three trained observers (interobserver reliability = 0.91 to 0.98).Results:Separate count cutoffs for 3, 4, and 5-y olds were established. Sensitivity and specificity for the count cutoffs ranged from 86.7% to 100.0% and 66.7% to 100.0%, respectively. ActiGraph counts/15 s were different among all activities (P < 0.05) except the two sitting activities. Correlations between observed and ActiGraph intensity categorizations at the preschools ranged from 0.46 to 0.70 (P < 0.001).Conclusions:The ActiGraph count cutoffs established and validated in this study can be used to objectively categorize the time that preschool-age children spend in different physical activity intensity levels.

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Accelerometer Physical Activity Intensity Cut-points for Adults and Older Adults

The Korean Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education and Sports Science ◽

10.21797/ksme.2017.19.3.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 99-109

Author(s):

이미현 ◽

박세정

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Activity Intensity ◽

Cut Points ◽

Activity Intensity

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Ability of RT3 Accelerometer Cut Points to Detect Physical Activity Intensity in Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly ◽

10.1123/apaq.2013-0088 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 310-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jennifer Ryan ◽

Michael Walsh ◽

John Gormley

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Accelerometer Data ◽

Physical Activity Intensity ◽

Cut Points ◽

Cut Point ◽

Activity Intensity ◽

Metabolic Equivalents ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

This study investigated the ability of published cut points for the RT3 accelerometer to differentiate between levels of physical activity intensity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Oxygen consumption (metabolic equivalents; METs) and RT3 data (counts/min) were measured during rest and 5 walking trials. METs and corresponding counts/min were classified as sedentary, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) according to MET thresholds. Counts were also classified according to published cut points. A published cut point exhibited an excellent ability to classify sedentary activity (sensitivity = 89.5%, specificity = 100.0%). Classification accuracy decreased when published cut points were used to classify LPA (sensitivity = 88.9%, specificity = 79.6%) and MVPA (sensitivity = 70%, specificity = 95–97%). Derivation of a new cut point improved classification of both LPA and MVPA. Applying published cut points to RT3 accelerometer data collected in children with CP may result in misclassification of LPA and MVPA.

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