title: Evaluation of a step-counter during treadmill walking in 7-12 year old African-American children.
abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Digiwalker step-counter in recording the number of steps by African-American children during level treadmill walking and the accuracy of the Digiwalker when placed inside a pouch at midline rather than when placed at midline of the thigh. A secondary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the number of steps and physiological response to walking. Study subjects were a sub-set of thirty-one children recruited from a larger study evaluating the effects of an after school program on cardiovascular risk factors in this population. The Digiwalker was consistent in the steps recorded when time and speed were held constant and the Digiwalker was able to detect increases in steps with small increases in walking speed. In addition, the use of a soft-cased pouch appears to be an appropriate alternate placement site for the Digiwalker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Farah A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Marrero
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leenders
authors.forename: W Michael
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D001741:Black or African American