Accuracy of pedometer steps and time for youth with developmental disabilities during dynamic movements
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Abstract
Pedometers are a valid measure of walking behaviors of youth with and without disabilities. Walking is only one of the many types of movements in which youth engage. Given the dynamic/sporadic nature of youth’s activity patterns, the need arises to examine whether pedometers can accurately record activities other than walking. Sixteen youth with developmental disabilities (9 girls, 7 boys, 13.4 ± 3.8yrs) were videotaped for five minutes during adapted physical education (APE) class while wearing five Walk4Life 2505 pedometers placed in five locations around waist (front right and left, and back right, middle, and left). Subjects engaged in activities consistent with their APE curriculum (e.g., playing catch, volleyball). Researchers viewed each videotape and recorded actual steps and activity time. Findings of each researcher were compared to recorded steps and time (pedometers) for absolute error and transformed into percentages. The absolute percent error across the five pedometer locations for steps (time in parentheses) ranged from 72.8% (65.7%) to 42.3% (32.6%). Across all five pedometer locations, registered steps were underestimated by approximately 52.9% ± 48.9%, whereas pedometer registered time was overestimated by approximately 22.5% ± 53.8%. The findings indicate pedometers may not accurately reflect the dynamic movement youth with disabilities engage during APE.
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Research completed at the Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions
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v.4