Assessing Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Older Adults: Validity of a Commercial Activity Tracker

Purpose: Despite the potential for commercial activity devices to promote moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), limited information is available in older adults, a high-priority target population with unique gait dynamics and energy expenditure. The study purpose was to investigate the content validity of the Garmin Vivosmart HR device for step counts and MVPA in adults ≥65 years of age in free-living conditions.Methods: Thirty-five participants (M age= 73.7 (6.3) years) wore Garmin and ActiGraph GT3X+ devices for a minimum of 2 days. Accuracy and intra-person reliability were tested against a hip worn ActiGraph device. Separate analyses were conducted using different accelerometer cut-off values to define MVPA, a population-based threshold (≥2,020 counts/minute) and a recommended threshold for older adults (≥1,013 counts/minute).Results: Overall, the Garmin device overestimated MVPA compared with the hip-worn ActiGraph. However, the difference was small using the lower, age-specific, MVPA cut-off value [median (IQR) daily minutes; 50(85) vs. 32(49), p = 0.35] in contrast to the normative standard (50(85) vs. 7(24), p < 0.001). Regardless of the MVPA cut-off, intraclass correlation showed poor reliability [ICC (95% CI); 0.16(-0.40, 0.55) to 0.35(−0.32, 0.7)] which was supported by Bland-Altman plots. Garmin step count was both accurate (M step difference: 178.0, p = 0.22) and reliable [ICC (95% CI; 0.94) (0.88, 0.97)].Conclusion: Results support the accuracy of a commercial activity device to measure MVPA in older adults but further research in diverse patient populations is needed to determine clinical utility and reliability over time.

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Substitutions of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep: associations with mental health in middle-aged and elderly persons

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2020-215883 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. jech-2020-215883

Author(s):

Amy Hofman ◽

Trudy Voortman ◽

M. Arfan Ikram ◽

Annemarie I Luik

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Population Based ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Accelerometer Data ◽

Middle Aged

BackgroundPhysical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep are potential risk factors of mental health disorders, but previous studies have not considered the dependency between these activity domains. Therefore, we examined the associations of reallocations of time among older adults’ physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep with depressive and anxiety symptoms using compositional isotemporal substitution analyses.MethodsWe included 1943 participants (mean age 71 years, SD: 9; 52% women) from the population-based Rotterdam Study. Between 2011 and 2016, we collected accelerometer data (mean duration 5.8 days, SD: 0.4) on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep and self-reported data on depressive symptoms and anxiety.ResultsA reallocation of 30 min more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with a −0.55 (95% CI −1.04 to −0.06) points lower depressive symptoms score when replacing sleep and a −0.59 (95% CI −1.06 to −0.12) points lower score when replacing sedentary behaviour, but not when replacing light physical activity (−0.70, 95% CI −1.63 to 0.24). No associations were found for anxiety.ConclusionReplacing sedentary behaviour or sleep with more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with less depressive symptoms, suggesting that mainly intensive types of physical activity are important for middle-aged and older adults in relation to depressive symptoms.

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Validity and Interinstrument Reliability of a Medical Grade Physical Activity Monitor in Older Adults

Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour ◽

10.1123/jmpb.2019-0074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 31-38

Author(s):

Myles W. O’Brien ◽

William R. Wojcik ◽

Jonathon R. Fowles

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Activity Monitor ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Step Rate ◽

Medical Grade

Wearable physical activity monitors are associated with an increase in user’s habitual physical activity levels. Most of the older adult population do not meet the national moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) recommendations and may benefit from being prescribed a physical activity monitor. The PiezoRx is a class one medical grade device that uses step rate thresholds to measure MVPA. The validity and reliability of the PiezoRx in measuring MVPA has yet to be determined in older persons. We assessed the validity and interinstrument reliability of the PiezoRx to measure steps and MVPA in older adults. Participants (n = 19; 68.8 ± 2.3 years) wore an Omron HJ-320 pedometer, ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer, and four PiezoRx monitors during a five-stage treadmill walking protocol. The PiezoRx devices were set at moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity step rate thresholds (steps per minute) of 100/120, 110/130, adjusted for height and adjusted for height + fitness. The PiezoRx exhibited a stronger correlation (intraclass correlation coefficient = .82) with manually counted steps than the ActiGraph (intraclass correlation coefficient = .53) and Omron (intraclass correlation coefficient = .54) and had a low absolute percentage error (3 ± 6%). The PiezoRx with moderate physical activity/vigorous physical activity step thresholds adjusted to 110/130 was strongly correlated to indirect calorimetry (0.84, p < .001) and best distinguished each walking stage as MVPA or not (sensitivity: 88%; specificity: 95%). The PiezoRx monitor is a valid and reliable measure of step count and MVPA among older adults. The device’s ability to measure MVPA in absolute terms was improved when step rate thresholds for moderate physical activity/vigorous physical activity were increased to 110/130 steps per minute in this population.

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Association between 6-minute walk test and moderate to vigorous physical activity level in older adults

Korean Journal of Sports Science ◽

10.35159/kjss.2017.10.26.5.911 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 911-919

Author(s):

Soon-Chang Sung ◽

Jin-Wook Chung ◽

Seung-Sam Jung ◽

Hyun-Soo Kim

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Activity Level ◽

Walk Test ◽

6 Minute Walk Test ◽

Minute Walk

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Profiles of Loneliness and Social Isolation in Physically Active and Inactive Older Adults in Rural England

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18083971 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 3971

Author(s):

Jolanthe de Koning ◽

Suzanne H. Richards ◽

Grace E. R. Wood ◽

Afroditi Stathi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Social Contact ◽

Physical Activity Behaviour ◽

Rural Setting ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Physically Active

Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality and physical inactivity in older age. This study explored the socioecological context in which both physically active and inactive older adults experience loneliness and/or social isolation in a UK rural setting. Design: A mixed-methods design employed semi structured interviews and accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Interviews explored the personal, social and environmental factors influencing engagement with physical activities, guided by an adapted-socioecological model of physical activity behaviour. Findings: Twenty-four older adults (MeanAge = 73 (5.8 SD); 12 women) were interviewed. Transcripts were thematically analysed and seven profiles of physical activity, social isolation and loneliness were identified. The high-MVPA group had established PA habits, reported several sources of social contact and evaluated their physical environment as activity friendly. The low MVPA group had diverse experiences of past engagement in social activities. Similar to the high MVPA, they reported a range of sources of social contact but they did not perceive the physical environment as activity friendly. Conclusions: Loneliness and/or social isolation was reported by both physically active and inactive older adults. There is wide diversity and complexity in types and intensity of PA, loneliness and social isolation profiles and personal, social and environmental contexts.

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Association of daily composition of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with incidence of cardiovascular disease in older adults

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s12966-021-01157-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manasa S. Yerramalla ◽

Duncan E. McGregor ◽

Vincent T. van Hees ◽

Aurore Fayosse ◽

Aline Dugravot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Movement Behaviour ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Daily Movement ◽

Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Current Duration

Abstract Background Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is proposed as key for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prevention. At older ages, the role of sedentary behaviour (SB) and light intensity physical activity (LIPA) remains unclear. Evidence so far is based on studies examining movement behaviours as independent entities ignoring their co-dependency. This study examines the association between daily composition of objectively-assessed movement behaviours (MVPA, LIPA, SB) and incident CVD in older adults. Methods Whitehall II accelerometer sub-study participants free of CVD at baseline (N = 3319, 26.7% women, mean age = 68.9 years in 2012–2013) wore a wrist-accelerometer from which times in SB, LIPA, and MVPA during waking period were extracted over 7 days. Compositional Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for incident CVD for daily compositions of movement behaviours characterized by 10 (20 or 30) minutes greater duration in one movement behaviour accompanied by decrease in another behaviour, while keeping the third behaviour constant, compared to reference composition. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, cardiometabolic risk factors and multimorbidity index. Results Of the 3319 participants, 299 had an incident CVD over a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.2 (1.3) years. Compared to daily movement behaviour composition with MVPA at recommended 21 min per day (150 min/week), composition with additional 10 min of MVPA and 10 min less SB was associated with smaller risk reduction – 8% (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87–0.99) – than the 14% increase in risk associated with a composition of similarly reduced time in MVPA and more time in SB (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02–1.27). For a given MVPA duration, the CVD risk did not differ as a function of LIPA and SB durations. Conclusions Among older adults, an increase in MVPA duration at the expense of time in either SB or LIPA was found associated with lower incidence of CVD. This study lends support to public health guidelines encouraging increase in MVPA or at least maintain MVPA at current duration.

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Impact of pain characteristics and fear-avoidance beliefs on physical activity levels among older adults with chronic pain: a population-based, longitudinal study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-016-0224-3 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Caroline Larsson ◽

Eva Ekvall Hansson ◽

Kristina Sundquist ◽

Ulf Jakobsson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Population Based ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Fear Avoidance ◽

Fear Avoidance Beliefs ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Pain Characteristics

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Physical Activity Health Literacy in Iranian Older Adults: Development and Psychometric Testing

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2021-0221 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Moeini Babak ◽

Barati Majid ◽

Heidarimoghadam Rashid ◽

Tapak Leili ◽

Parsamajd Shahryar

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Psychometric Testing ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Two Phases

Inadequate health literacy decreases physical activity. This study aimed to develop and examine psychometrics of physical activity health literacy in Iranian older adults. This methodological work was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of extensive studies review and qualitative study to extract and design the items. The psychometrics were measured in Phase 2 included content, faceconstruct validities, reliability, and stability. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS (version 25.0) and AMOS (version 24.0). The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed four factors— information evaluation, reading skill, perception, and decision making—and used information that explained 70.08% of the variance. The model’s fitness was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency based on Cronbach’s alpha was .89 with composite reliability >0.85. Stability was confirmed through the test–retest method and intraclass correlation coefficient (.89–1). Psychometrics of physical activity health literacy in Iranian older adults supported validity and reliability of the tool.

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The Relations Between Physical Activity Level, Executive Function, and White Matter Microstructure in Older Adults

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2021-0012 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Marissa A. Gogniat ◽

Catherine M. Mewborn ◽

Talia L. Robinson ◽

Kharine R. Jean ◽

L. Stephen Miller

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

White Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Neuropsychological Testing ◽

Activity Level ◽

Average Intensity ◽

Age Related

The population of older adults is increasing, indicating a need to examine factors that may prevent or mitigate age-related cognitive decline. The current study examined whether microstructural white matter characteristics mediated the relation between physical activity and executive function in older adults without any self-reported psychiatric and neurological disorders or cognitive impairment (N = 43, mean age = 73 y). Physical activity was measured by average intensity and number of steps via accelerometry. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to examine microstructural white matter characteristics, and neuropsychological testing was used to examine executive functioning. Parallel mediation models were analyzed using microstructural white matter regions of interest as mediators of the association between physical activity and executive function. Results indicated that average steps was significantly related to executive function (β = 0.0003, t = 2.829, P = .007), while moderate to vigorous physical activity was not (β = 0.0007, t = 1.772, P = .08). White matter metrics did not mediate any associations. This suggests that microstructural white matter characteristics alone may not be the mechanism by which physical activity impacts executive function in aging.

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