Arumugam Ashokan, Ghannami Zaineb, Mahallati Mahnaz, Al-Shams Hala, Ahmed Shaza, Khaled Hager, Hussein Maha, Alkalih Hanan Youssef, Montoye Alexander H K, Clevenger Kimberly, Pesola Arto J
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, RIMHS - Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
PLoS One. 2025 May 20;20(5):e0324555. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324555. eCollection 2025.
Accelerometer-based physical activity monitors are designed for placement on several body locations, with popular sites being the wrist, waist/hip, and thigh. Thigh placement is particularly valued for its accuracy in measuring postures and related energy expenditures. However, exploring the outcomes of different thigh wear locations remains an area for further research. This study investigated the inter-monitor reliability of Fibion accelerometers for energy expenditure and activity type classification, and their validity by comparing the Fibion's activity classification against direct observation of a structured activity protocol as the reference standard.
Thirty healthy, young adults (aged 21.83 ± 2.80 years; 15 women) wore six Fibion accelerometers on three locations (proximal thigh, 10 cm above the patella, and the front trouser pocket) on both thighs while performing 11 functional activities for 70 minutes in a laboratory setting. Inter-monitor reliability for measuring energy expenditure, activity type and intensity, and accuracy for activity type and intensity classification of the pre-defined functional activities were assessed. Validity was assessed for classifying activity type and intensity.
Reliability estimates (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3, k)) implied good to excellent inter-monitor reliability for measuring energy expenditure during nearly all activities. Furthermore, energy expenditure measurements were equivalent between accelerometers in both trouser pockets, and proximal and distal thighs within a bound of ±.1.60 kcal/min. However, the right pocket was not equivalent to either the right proximal thigh or the right distal thigh. The mean activity classification accuracy ranged from 87-92% for activity type and 91-94% for activity intensity for the chosen activities, irrespective of the accelerometer location or side of the body (right vs. left).
The Fibion accelerometers reliably measure energy expenditure and accurately classify activity type/intensity for nearly all functional activities, regardless of the thigh wear location or side of the body. However, interchanging pocket and thigh placements is not recommended. Similar studies in free-living settings are further warranted.
基于加速度计的身体活动监测器设计用于放置在身体的多个部位，常见部位有手腕、腰部/臀部和大腿。大腿放置因其在测量姿势和相关能量消耗方面的准确性而备受重视。然而，探索不同大腿佩戴位置的结果仍是一个有待进一步研究的领域。本研究调查了Fibion加速度计在能量消耗和活动类型分类方面的监测器间可靠性，并通过将Fibion的活动分类与作为参考标准的结构化活动方案的直接观察结果进行比较，来评估其有效性。
30名健康的年轻成年人（年龄21.83±2.80岁；15名女性）在实验室环境中进行11项功能活动70分钟时，在双大腿的三个位置（大腿近端、髌骨上方10厘米处和裤子前口袋）佩戴六个Fibion加速度计。评估了监测器间在测量能量消耗、活动类型和强度方面的可靠性，以及预定义功能活动的活动类型和强度分类的准确性。评估了活动类型和强度分类的有效性。
可靠性估计值（组内相关系数（ICC 3，k））表明，在几乎所有活动中测量能量消耗时，监测器间可靠性良好到优秀。此外，两个裤子口袋中的加速度计以及大腿近端和远端之间的能量消耗测量值在±0.16千卡/分钟的范围内相当。然而，右口袋与右大腿近端或右大腿远端不等效。所选活动的活动类型平均分类准确率为87 - 92%，活动强度平均分类准确率为91 - 94%，与加速度计位置或身体侧别（右侧与左侧）无关。
Fibion加速度计能可靠地测量能量消耗，并能准确地对几乎所有功能活动的活动类型/强度进行分类，无论大腿佩戴位置或身体侧别如何。然而，不建议将口袋和大腿佩戴位置互换。进一步有必要在自由生活环境中进行类似研究。
