title: Accuracy of Estimating Step Counts and Intensity Using Accelerometers in Older People With or Without Assistive Devices.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of uni- and triaxial accelerometers in monitoring step counts and gait intensity in older people who did or did not use an assistive device. Forty-nine healthy and frail older adults wore uniaxial (Lifecorder, Suzuken Co. Ltd.) and triaxial accelerometers (Activity Monitor, Matsushita Electronic Works, Ltd., and Active Style Pro, Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.) during three trials at different gait speeds. All accelerometers gave relatively accurate step counts for healthy older participants compared with direct observation; however, the error was greater for frail older people with assistive devices. Gait intensity detection error was unaffected by gait speed. Among frail older people with assistive devices, the gait intensity error was smaller than for step count error. To accurately assess the steps walked or the gait intensity among frail older people using assistive devices, more study is needed on these groups of participants.
authors.forename: Jonghoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa-Takata
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bessyo
authors.forename: Shigeho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000368:Aged; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: accelerometers; assistive device; frail; gait intensity; older; step counts