scholarly journals Peer Review #1 of "The validity of activity trackers is affected by walking speed: the criterion validity of Garmin Vivosmart® HR and StepWatch™ 3 for measuring steps at various walking speeds under controlled conditions (v0.2)"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Criterion Validity ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
Walking Speeds

scholarly journals The validity of activity trackers is affected by walking speed: the criterion validity of Garmin Vivosmart® HR and StepWatch™ 3 for measuring steps at various walking speeds under controlled conditions

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9381
Author(s):  
Frederik Rose Svarre ◽  
Mads Møller Jensen ◽  
Josephine Nielsen ◽  
Morten Villumsen
Keyword(s):  
Criterion Validity ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
Healthcare It ◽  
Graded Activity ◽  
Walking Speeds

Introduction The use of activity trackers has increased both among private consumers and in healthcare. It is therefore relevant to consider whether a consumer-graded activity tracker is comparable to or may substitute a research-graded activity tracker, which could further increase the use of activity trackers in healthcare and rehabilitation. Such use will require knowledge of their accuracy as the clinical implications may be significant. Studies have indicated that activity trackers are not sufficiently accurate, especially at lower walking speeds. The present study seeks to inform decision makers and healthcare personnel considering implementing physical activity trackers in clinical practice. This study investigates the criterion validity of the consumer-graded Garmin Vivosmart® HR and the research-graded StepWatch™ 3 compared with manual step count (gold standard) at different walking speeds under controlled conditions. Methods Thirty participants, wearing Garmin Vivosmart® HR at the wrist and StepWatch™ 3 at the ankle, completed six trials on a treadmill at different walking speeds: 1.6 km/h, 2.4 km/h, 3.2 km/h, 4.0 km/h, 4.8 km/h, and 5.6 km/h. The participants were video recorded, and steps were registered by manual step count. Medians and inter-quartile ranges (IQR) were calculated for steps and differences in steps between manually counted steps and the two devices. In order to assess the clinical relevance of the tested devices, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was determined at each speed. A MAPE ≤3% was considered to be clinically irrelevant. Furthermore, differences between manually counted steps and steps recorded by the two devices were presented in Bland–Altman style plots. Results The median of differences in steps between Garmin Vivosmart® HR and manual step count ranged from −49.5 (IQR = 101) at 1.6 km/h to −1 (IQR = 4) at 4.0 km/h. The median of differences in steps between StepWatch™ 3 and manual step count were 4 (IQR = 14) at 1.6 km/h and 0 (IQR = 1) at all other walking speeds. The results of the MAPE showed that differences in steps counted by Garmin Vivosmart® HR were clinically irrelevant at walking speeds 3.2–4.8 km/h (MAPE: 0.61–1.27%) as the values were below 3%. Differences in steps counted by StepWatch™ 3 were clinically irrelevant at walking speeds 2.4–5.6 km/h (MAPE: 0.08–0.35%). Conclusion Garmin Vivosmart® HR tended to undercount steps compared with the manual step count, and StepWatch™ 3 slightly overcounted steps compared with the manual step count. Both the consumer-graded activity tracker (Garmin Vivosmart® HR) and the research-graded (StepWatch™ 3) are valid in detecting steps at selected walking speeds in healthy adults under controlled conditions. However, both activity trackers miscount steps at slow walking speeds, and the consumer graded activity tracker also miscounts steps at fast walking speeds.

scholarly journals Myofascial Release of the Hamstrings Improves Physical Performance—A Study of Young Adults

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Keisuke Itotani ◽  
Kanta Kawahata ◽  
Wakana Takashima ◽  
Wakana Mita ◽  
Hitomi Minematsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Joint Movement ◽  
Myofascial Release ◽  
Functional Reach Test ◽  
Hamstring Flexibility ◽  
Walking Speeds

Physical performance is mainly assessed in terms of gait speed, chair rise capacity, and balance skills, and assessments are often carried out on the lower limbs. Such physical performance is largely influenced by the strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles. Flexibility of the hamstrings is important because quadriceps muscle activity influences the hip flexion angle. Therefore, hamstring flexibility is essential to improve physical performance. In this study, Myofascial Release (MFR) was applied to the hamstrings to evaluate its effects. MFR on the hamstrings was performed on 17 young adults. Physical function and physical performance were measured before, immediately after, and 5 days after the MFR intervention: finger floor distance (FFD), range of motion (ROM) of the straight leg raising test (SLR), standing long jump (SLJ), squat jump (SJ), functional reach test (FRT), comfortable walking speeds (C-walking speed), and maximum walking speeds (M-walking speed). The results of the analysis show a significant increase in FFD (−2.6 ± 8.9 vs. 0.4 ± 9.4 vs. 2.4 ± 8.9, p < 0.01), SLJ (185.6 ± 44.5 vs. 185.0 ± 41.8 vs. 196.6 ± 40.1, p < 0.01), and M-walking speed (2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.6 vs. 3.3 ± 0.6, p < 0.01). This study has shown that MFR for hamstrings not only improves flexibility but also increases M-walking speed and physical performance of the SLJ. As MFR is safe and does not involve joint movement, it may be useful for maintaining and improving performance and flexibility during inactivity and for stretching before exercise.

Pedestrian Behavior at Signalized Intersection Crosswalks: Observational Study of Factors Associated with Distracted Walking, Pedestrian Violations, and Walking Speed

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (35) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan J. Russo ◽  
Emmanuel James ◽  
Cristopher Y. Aguilar ◽  
Edward J. Smaglik
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Signalized Intersections ◽  
Video Data ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Pedestrian Behavior ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Walking Speeds

In the past two decades, cell phone and smartphone use in the United States has increased substantially. Although mobile phones provide a convenient way for people to communicate, the distraction caused by the use of these devices has led to unintended traffic safety and operational consequences. Although it is well recognized that distracted driving is extremely dangerous for all road users (including pedestrians), the potential impacts of distracted walking have not been as comprehensively studied. Although practitioners should design facilities with the safety, efficiency, and comfort of pedestrians in mind, it is still important to investigate certain pedestrian behaviors at existing facilities to minimize the risk of pedestrian–vehicle crashes, and to reduce behaviors that may unnecessarily increase delay at signalized intersections. To gain new insights into factors associated with distracted walking, pedestrian violations, and walking speed, 3,038 pedestrians were observed across four signalized intersections in New York and Arizona using high-definition video cameras. The video data were reduced and summarized, and an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was estimated to analyze factors affecting walking speeds. In addition, binary logit models were estimated to analyze both pedestrian distraction and pedestrian violations. Ultimately, several site- and pedestrian-specific variables were found to be significantly associated with pedestrian distraction, violation behavior, and walking speeds. The results provide important information for researchers, practitioners, and legislators, and may be useful in planning strategies to reduce or mitigate the impacts of pedestrian behavior that may be considered unsafe or potentially inefficient.

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