PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nishida, Yuki
AU  - Tanaka, Shigeho
AU  - Hatamoto, Yoichi
AU  - Hatanaka, Mana
AU  - Ishikawa-Takata, Kazuko
AU  - Abe, Takayuki
AU  - Higaki, Yasuki
AU  - Katsukawa, Fuminori
TI  - Impact of walking aids on estimating physical activity using a tri-axial accelerometer in frail older adults
AID  - 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001014
DP  - 2021 Jun 01
TA  - BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
PG  - e001014
VI  - 7
IP  - 2
4099  - http://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/2/e001014.short
4100  - http://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/2/e001014.full
SO  - BMJ OPEN SP EX MED2021 Jun 01; 7
AB  - Objectives This study aimed to compare the estimation error of physical activity level (PAL) estimated using a tri-axial accelerometer between an independent walking group and an assisted walking group with walking aids.Methods Subjects were 6 older adults who could walk independently and 10 older adults requiring walking assistance during gait. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using the doubly labelled water (DLW) method over 2 weeks and PAL was calculated as the measured TEE divided by the basal metabolic rate measured using indirect calorimetry (PALDLW). The participants wore a tri-axial accelerometer (Active style Pro HJA-750C) on the waist simultaneously as the DLW period, and the estimated PAL was derived from it (PALACC).Results The median PAL estimation error in the assisted walking group was −0.30 kcal/day (range: −0.77 to −0.01 kcal/day) and more underestimated than that in the independent walking group (p=0.02). The estimation error of PALACC was significantly correlated with PALDLW (r=−0.80, p<0.01).Conclusions Using the accelerometer, PAL was underestimated for older adults who used walking aids but not for those who walked independently under free-living conditions.