INTRODUCTION

Step counts represent a straight-forward method of measuring physical activity in adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study examined the absolute and relative accuracy and precision of a wrist-worn research-grade accelerometer (i.e., ActiGraph GT3X+) for measuring step counts during over-ground and treadmill walking in adults with PD and controls without PD.

METHODS

Participants (PD: n = 29; controls: n = 31) wore two ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometers, one on each wrist, and completed an over-ground walking bout followed by a treadmill walking bout at the same speed. Step counts were measured manually using a hand-held tally counter. Accuracy and precision were based on absolute and relative metrics.

RESULTS

The ActiGraph GT3X + underestimated step counts in both participants with PD (4.7-11% error) and controls without PD (8.8-17% error), with a greater discrepancy in controls. The ActiGraph GT3X + provided more accurate and precise estimates of step counts when placed on the more affected wrist and non-dominant wrist for participants with PD and controls, respectively, and was more accurate and precise during over-ground walking compared with treadmill walking for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that placement of the device (i.e., dominant vs. non-dominant), type of activity (i.e., over-ground vs. treadmill walking), and presence of clinical conditions may impact the accuracy and precision of data when using the research-grade ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometer for measuring step counts.