Validity of actigraphs uniaxial and triaxial accelerometers for assessment of physical activity in adults in laboratory conditions

Abstract

Background

Few studies to date have directly compared the Actigraphs GT1M and the GT3X, it would be of tremendous value to know if these accelerometers give similar information about intensities of PA. Knowing if output is similar would have implications for cross-examination of studies. The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of the GT1M and the GT3X Actigraph accelerometers for the assessment of physical activity against oxygen consumption in laboratory conditions.

Methods

Forty-two college-aged participants aged 18-25 years wore the GT1M and the GT3X on their right hip during treadmill exercise at three different speeds, slow walking 4.8 km^.h^-1, fast walking 6.4 km^.h^-1, and running 9.7 km^.h^-1). Oxygen consumption was measured minute-by minute using a metabolic system. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement between activity counts from the GT3X and GT1M, and correlations were assessed the ability of the accelerometers to assess physical activity.

Results

Bias for 4.8 km^.h^-1 was 2814.4 cpm (limits 1211.3 to 4417.4), for 6.4 km^.h^-1 was 3713.6 cpm (limits 1573.2 to 5854.0), and for 9.7 km^.h^-1 was−3811.2 cpm (limits 842.1 to 6780.3). Correlations between counts per minute for the GT1M and the GT3X were significantly correlated with VO₂ (r = 0.881, p < 0.001; r = 0.810, p < 0.001 respectively).

Conclusion

The present study showed that both the GT1M and the GT3X accurately measure physical activity when compared to oxygen consumption.

Background

Over the past two decades, the use of accelerometry has become an increasingly popular. As a method for the assessment of physical activity (PA) they provide good evidence of validity and reliability [1, 2]. The increase in accelerometry use may be a result for the need of accurate and objective techniques. As a result, a number of accelerometers have become commercially available. One of the most widely used accelerometers in PA research is the Actigraph’s Uniaxial GT1M (Actigraph, Pensacola, FL) and more recently the company released the triaxial GT3X (Actigraph, Pensacola, FL) [3]. These accelerometers are based on differential capacitance sensor using the Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) lithography technology to manufacture the tiny measurement devices [4–6]. These MEMS based accelerometers are designed to have an excellent force range and bandwidth of operation suited to measuring physical activity from low frequency (>0.1 Hz) right up to the kHz range. In addition their resonant frequency is far above the target frequency range of interest and will not distort the measurements of human activity. Differential capacitance may also be defined as “parallel plate capacitance” after the typical design of the MEMS capacitor sensor Capacitors can be thought of as electrical storage devices that are constantly discharging. Differential capacitance is a parameter used to characterize electrical double layers i.e. the two electrical parallel plates in accelerometers [4–6].

The sensor works by having one plate fixed and the other plate mounted in such a way that it moves when it experiences an external force on the device. The movement of the plate relative to the other fixed plate generates a change in the stored charge (Surface charge) and the voltage stored between the two plates (Electric surface potential), it is the rate of change of stored charge divided by the rate of change of the voltage that defines the differential capacitance. While the GT1M contains an ADXL320 acceleration sensor, which, measures both static and dynamic accelerations, the GT3X contains an ADXL335 accelerometer (Analog Devices). Although the accelerometer is different in the GT3X, the structure and theory of operations of the ADXL335 is similar to that of the ADXL320 [4–6]. In addition, the GT3X provides inclinometer output and uses vector magnitude data form three axes. The GT3X measures acceleroations in three individual plans of motion, the vertical (VT), antero-posterior (AP), and medio-lateral (ML) and provides activity counts as a composite vector magnitude of these three axes (VM3). So in theory, the GT3X should provide a more accurate assessment of physical activity.

While increasing number of adult and pediatric studies use Actigraphs uniaxial accelerometers [7–15], and various versions have been introduced over the years, numerous investigators have reported on the validity to assess physical activity in the laboratory and in field settings [16–19], to estimate energy expenditure [15, 20–25] and in the comparison to other activity monitors from other manufacturers [26–29]. However, few studies to date have directly compared the Actigraphs GT1M and the GT3X, it would be of tremendous value to know if these accelerometers give similar information about intensities of PA. Knowing if output is similar would have implications for cross-examination of studies. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess the validity of the GT1M and the GT3X Actigraph accelerometers for the assessment of physical activity against oxygen consumption.

Methods

Participants

Data was analyzed from 42 healthy, recreationally active, adults (23 males, 19 females) recruited from the California Lutheran University student, staff and faculty population along with surrounding communities through word of mouth. Participants were required to meet the following study entry inclusion criteria: 1) age 18-30 years, and 2) BMI 20-24 according to the WHO international classifications of adult BMI [30]. Part of our protocol included running at a modest pace, therefore, participants were excluded if they were taking medications known to affect oxygen consumption, physical activity, body composition, diagnosed with any syndromes known to affect oxygen consumption, physical activity, body composition or self reported smokers. Written informed consent was obtained from participants before testing began. The Institutional Review Board of the California Lutheran University approved this study, and all procedures were performed in accordance with standards outlined in the Helsinki Declaration.

Study design

Using a similar methodology as described by Freedson et al. [13], each accelerometer was initialized per manufacturers instructions, and the sampling period was set at 1 minute, raw output was expressed as counts per minute (cpm) prior to each testing session. To evaluate the validity of the GT1M (Actigraph, Pensacola, FL) and the GT3X (Actigraph, Pensacola, FL) against oxygen consumption, all participants wore both accelerometers simultaneously, over the right hip and secured it with the same adjustable elastic belt and buckle supplied by the manufacturers. After a standardized 10 minute familiarization period on a calibrated treadmill, participants performed 6 minutes of the following exercise conditions: slow walking (4.8 km^.h^-1), fast walking (6.4 km^.h^-1), and running (9.7 km^.h^-1), and the order of exercise conditions was random across participants. All exercise bouts were performed at 0% grade due to the known limitations of the GT1M [15]. Each exercise bout was separated by a 5-minute rest period, this rest period was standardized for each participant, as previously described by Freedson et al. [13]. While study participants reported no know contradictions to exercise, as a precaution, exercise heart rate was monitored using a Polar T31 transmitter and receiver (Lake Success, NY, US). Following the testing session both accelerometers were immediately downloaded as per the manufactures instructions using firmware version 5.10.

GT1M actigraph

The Actigraph GT1M Activity monitor is a small (3.8 × 3.7 × 1.8 cm) light (27 g) uniaxial accelerometer, which is housed in a plastic case. The GT1M is a solid-state micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). It is designed to measure and record time varying accelerations ranging in magnitude from 0.05 to 2Gs approximately with a frequency response of 0.25 to 2.50 HZ. These parameters were chosen as they best detect normal human motion and reject motion from other sources [4–6]. The GT1M measures acceleration in Vertical (VT) plane only [4–6, 14].

The GT1M accelerometer now uses a highly accurate solid-state accelerometer, which undergoes a precise batch manufacturing process to ensure high repeatability. Esigler et al. [31] reported the overall intra and inter-instrumentation reliability of the GT1M for counts was 2.9 and 3.5% respectively and for steps 1.1 and 1.2% respectively. The filter is now implemented within the software of the device, thus removing unit-to-unit variability due to this source, leaving only the accelerometer vendor’s initial tolerance specification on sensitivity as the primary source of error. The accelerometer vendor claims the devices are manufactured to ensure that the initial tolerance specification on sensitivity only varies by ± 10% [4–6].

GT3X actigraph

The GT3X is lightweight and compact with a weight of 27 grams and dimensions of (3.8 cm × 3.7 cm × 1.8 cm). The GT3X activity monitor uses a solid-state triaxial accelerometer to collect motion data on three axes for the highest levels of analytic capabilities available.

ActiGraph GT3X activity monitor accurately and consistently measures and records time varying accelerations ranging in magnitude from approximately 0.05 to 2.5 G’s. The accelerometer output is digitized by a twelve-bit (12) Analog to Digital Convertor (ADC) at a rate of thirty times per second (30 Hertz). Once digitized, the signal passes through a digital filter that band-limits the accelerometer to the frequency range of 0.25 to 2.5 Hz. This frequency range has been carefully chosen to detect normal human motion and to reject changing accelerations within the pass band. The GT3X has also demonstrated high reliability with an intra-class correlation coefficient for activity counts of 0.97 [32]. The GT3X measures acceleration in three individual orthogonal planes (VT, AP, and medio-lateral (ML)) and provides activity counts as a composite vector magnitude of these three axes (VM3) [4–6, 14].

Indirect calorimetry

Expired gases were collected in a mixing chamber with samples taken every 15 seconds; 30-second averages were analyzed via a Parvo-Medics: True One 2400 Metabolic System (Sandy, Utah, US). Analyzers were calibrated before and after each testing session using verified calibration gasses. Steady state energy expenditure (kcal^.min-1) was calculated by averaging the final 3 minutes of each exercise condition.

Anthropometric measurements

Participants were measured in light indoor clothing without shoes. Height and weight were measured in triplicate using a beam medical scale and wall-mounted stadiometer, to the nearest 0.1 kg and 0.1 cm, respectively. The mean of the measurements were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) (kg/m²).

Statistical analysis

Prior to statistical analysis, each of the three methods was tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Pearson bivariate correlations were used to assess the simple relationship between VO₂ and activity counts from the GT1M and the GT3X. Bland-Altman [33] plots were used to assess agreement between activity counts from the GT3X and GT1M. For all analyses, statistical significance was set at an alpha level of 0.05.

Results

Participants characteristics and means and ± SD for VO2 and accelerometer data are shown are shown in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively. The average age was 21.57 ± 2.73 years. Since no gender differences were observed, all data analysis was performed on the total sample. As a result of attrition due to restriction of range, correlations were performed on the total sample instead of individual speeds. Correlations between counts per minute for the GT1M and the GT3X were strongly positively and statistically significantly correlated (r = 0.937, p < 0.001) (see Figures 1 and 2). Both the GT1M and the GT3X accelerometers count/minute were significantly positively correlated with VO₂ (r 0.881, p < 0.001; r = 0.810, p < 0.001 respectively). Bias for 4.8 km^.h^-1 was 2814.4 cpm (limits 1211.3 to 4417.4), for 6.4 km^.h^-1 was 3713.6 cpm (limits 1573.2 to 5854.0), and for 9.7 km^.h^-1 was−3811.2 cpm (limits 842.1 to 6780.3) (see Figures 3, 4 and 5).

Table 1 Participants characteristics (mean ± SD)

Table 2 Mean (± SD) for VO2 and activity county for GT1M and GT3X

Figure 1

Correlation of GT1M and VO2(L/min).

Figure 2

Correlation of GT3X and VO2 max (L/min).

Figure 3

Bland/Altman plot for GT1M and GT3X at slow walking.

Figure 4

Bland/Altman plot for GT1M and GT3X at fast walking.

Figure 5

Bland/Altman plot for GT1M and GT3X at Running.

Discussion

The GT3X and other triaxial accelerometers were developed under the assumption that more planes are better [34, 35]. By measuring motion in more than one plane, these monitors might be better able to quantify physical activity more effectively than uniaxial accelerometers. Indeed, several authors have suggested specifically that triaxial accelerometers may be more sensitive than uniaxial accelerometers to the torsional, non-vertical movement associated with every day movement [36–39]. The present study aimed to assess the ability of two accelerometers to measure physical activity compared to the criterion oxygen consumption. It was assumed that the GT3X accelerometer would assess PA levels more accurately than the GT1M as this triaxial accelerometer measures movements in the 3 dimensions of space, whereas the uniaxial accelerometer measures movement in one dimension only [40, 41]. While results from other studies showed that triaxial accelrometers measured physical activity and energy expenditure in adults and children more accurately than uniaxial accelerometers [42, 43], our results show that the additional information obtained from 3 dimensional movements is not more efficient or more accurate than the uniaxial accelerometer when compared to oxygen consumption.

There may be a number of reasons the GT3X was not more accurate than the GT1M, firstly, it is possible that walking and running on a treadmill did not illicit enough of a force to register accurately on any other axis other than the vertical. Furthermore, walking, fast walking and running may not have produced enough deviation of sway, or had a lower impact on anteroposterior and mediolateral axis. In fact, there may be evidence to suggest that the vertical is indeed the most important axis [42]. Secondly, as walking, fast walking and running were conducted on a treadmill with no incline there was very little opportunity for anteroposterior and mediolateral axis movements.

Sasaki et al. [14], study using an older sample population and a much firmware found similar results to our study. The authors concluded that VT counts from the GT1M and the GT3X were analogous and therefore if data have been collected in the VT plan only then data can be directly comparable. The results of our study are also similar to those of Welk et al. [43], who predicted energy expenditure using three different accelerometers the ActiGraph (uniaxial), Tritrac-RT3 (triaxial), and BioTrainer (bidirectional). While energy expenditure estimates increased in all three activity monitors during running, walking and lawn mowing, all three monitors significantly underestimated the energy cost of more static and/or complex movement patterns by approximately 50%. The Welk et al. [43], study concluded that the assessment of multiple dimensions of movement do not provide enough extra information to fill the considerable “energy gap” experienced by these monitors. Another study by Hänggi et al. [44], investigated the comparability of the GT3X to the GT1M in children during a semi structured activity laboratory setting concluded that the monitors differ for certain activities, and posture classification by the GT3X should be interpreted with care, as misclassifications are common.

However, results from an older study by Eston et al. [37] contradict our findings. The Eston study compared the accuracy of heart rate monitoring, pedometry, triaxial accelerometry, and uniaxial accelerometry for estimating oxygen consumption during typical children’s activities. While all measurements significantly correlated with VO₂, the authors concluded that triaxial accelerometers provide more accurate assessments of physical activity. It is worth noting that both accelerometers used in this study were old versions of the WAM 7146 uniaxial and the Tritrac R-3-D triaxial accelerometer. Similarly, a study by Vanhelst et al. [45], using a different triaxial accelerometer the RT3, compared equivalence and agreement of physical activity output data collected by a Research Tri-axial accelerometer (R3T) during walking and running on a treadmill versus on land in fifty healthy participants. The results showed good agreement between the counts obtained on the treadmill and on land (P < 0.05). The study concluded that the RT3 may be used in a laboratory and extrapolated to data obtained on land.

While a major strength of this study was the comparison of the uniaxial and triaxial accelerometers to the gold standard technique of oxygen consumption, a number of study limitations are worth noting. Firstly, this was a lab-based study and therefore we cannot infer that results from the current study would reflect free living conditions. Secondly, we only had 3 speeds, slow walking (4.8 km^.h^-1), fast walking (6.4 km^.h^-1), and running (9.7 km^.h^-1). It could be argued that we may have been more accurate at higher speeds, however, Sasaki et al. [14], showed that at higher speeds of 9.7 and 12 kmh-1 activity counts remained relatively stable. We chose not to increase our speed as to avoid this plateau or “ceiling” effect, which is a well know limitation of accelerometers [15, 46]. Thirdly, our recovery period between each bout of exercise was 5 minutes and this standardized for each participant. This recovery period may not have been a sufficient amount of time for some individuals. However, as our participants were young and physically fit, we believe this period to be adequate. Fourthly, current research has demonstrated that low frequency extension (LFE) increases sensitivity for low intensity activities [3]. As the current study was lab based and did not involve low intensity activities such as sitting, watching television the LFE was not activated. Finally, our sample size was relatively small and very homogenous, so our results may not be generalizable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present study showed that using a newer firmware that both the GT1M and the GT3X accurately measure PA when compared to oxygen consumption, and therefore if data has been collected using the VT axis then a comparison among studies is directly comparable. Future studies should look at assessing validity of both accelerometers in a more diverse physical activity’s, under lifestyle setting and with multiple age ranges.

Consent

All participants completed an informed consent in person.