Cyarto Elizabeth V, Myers Anita M, Tudor-Locke Catrine
Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Feb;36(2):205-9. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000113476.62469.98.
The accuracy of pedometers has not been thoroughly tested with older adult populations. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of walking speed and gait disorders on the accuracy of Yamax pedometers with nursing home residents (NH) relative to older adults living in the community.
Pedometer accuracy was evaluated against observed steps taken during a self-paced walking test (slow, normal, and fast speeds) in 26 NH residents and 28 seniors' recreation center members (SC). Devices were attached to clothing at the waist. Walking speed was ascertained from the timed walk and a gait assessment was conducted. Percent error was calculated as ([pedometer steps - observed steps]/observed steps) x 100.
The walking speeds of both samples increased across self-selected paces (P < 0.0001). The community-dwelling older adults walked significantly faster (P < 0.0001) in all trials and had significantly higher (P < 0.0001) gait assessment scores (indicating fewer gait problems). Gait scores were positively associated with walking speed and pedometer percent error. Pedometers significantly underestimated NH residents' observed steps taken by 74% (slow), 55% (normal), and 46% (fast) paces (P < 0.0001). In the SC sample, the instruments failed to detect 25%, 13%, and 7% of actual steps taken, respectively (P < 0.0001). The magnitude of the error was greater for NH versus SC older adults (P < 0.0001) across all trials.
Slow walking speed and gait disorders hamper the utility of pedometers for physical activity measurement in frail seniors, such as NH residents, when worn at the usual attachment site. Pedometers, however, can be confidently used with ostensibly healthy older adult populations for both assessment and motivation purposes.
计步器的准确性尚未在老年人群体中得到全面测试。本研究的目的是检验步行速度和步态障碍对Yamax计步器在养老院居民（NH）中准确性的影响，并与社区老年人进行比较。
在26名养老院居民和28名老年人娱乐中心成员（SC）中，根据自定步速行走测试（慢、正常和快速度）期间观察到的步数评估计步器的准确性。设备系在腰部的衣物上。通过定时步行确定步行速度，并进行步态评估。误差百分比计算为（[计步器步数 - 观察到的步数]/观察到的步数）×100。
两个样本的步行速度在自定步速中均有所增加（P < 0.0001）。在所有试验中，社区居住的老年人行走速度明显更快（P < 0.0001），步态评估得分也明显更高（表明步态问题更少）（P < 0.0001）。步态得分与步行速度和计步器误差百分比呈正相关。计步器显著低估了养老院居民在慢步（74%）、正常步（55%）和快步（46%）时观察到的步数（P < 0.0001）。在SC样本中，该仪器分别未能检测到实际步数的25%、13%和7%（P < 0.0001）。在所有试验中，养老院老年人与SC老年人相比，误差幅度更大（P < 0.0001）。
步行速度慢和步态障碍会妨碍计步器在体弱老年人（如养老院居民）中用于身体活动测量的效用，当计步器佩戴在通常的附着部位时。然而，计步器可放心用于表面健康的老年人群体，以进行评估和激励。
