Different location of triaxial accelerometer and different energy expenditures.

Abstract

PURPOSE: We performed a study to determine the best appropriate wearing site of a

triaxial accelerometer at different exercise speeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We

conducted an observational study with 66 healthy Korean adults (26 men and 40

women). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) before exercise, physical activity-related

energy expenditure (PAEE) by cardiorespiratory gas analyzer and Signal Vector

Magnitude (SVM) were measured while wearing four triaxial accelerometers on four

different sites (wrist, waist, upper arm, and ankle) at exercise speeds from 2-10

km/h. RESULTS: The mean RMR was 4.03 mL/kg/min and Actual METs (oxygen

consumption at different exercise speeds divided by individual RMR) compared with

the calculated METs (oxygen consumption divided by 3.5 mL/kg/min) showed

relatively low value. The overall correlation between PAEE and SVM was highest

when the accelerometer was worn on the wrist at low exercise speed (r=0.751,

p<0.001), waist at a moderate speed (r=0.821, p<0.001), and ankle at a high speed

(r=0.559, p<0.001). Using regression analysis, it was shown that the ankle at a

low speed (R(2)=0.564, p<0.001), high speed (R(2)=0.559, p<0.001), and the waist

at a moderate speed (R(2)=0.821, p<0.001) were the best appropriate sites.

CONCLUSION: When measuring the PAEE and SVM at different exercise speeds, the

ankle in low and high exercise speed, and waist in moderate speed are the most

appropriate sites for an accelerometer.