title: Validity of an Accelerometer Used to Measure Step Count in Children With Idiopathic Toe Walking.
abstract: To assess the validity of accelerometer use in children with idiopathic toe walking (ITW).
  
  
  
  Seventy-five children, 2 to 13 years old, with ITW were videotaped ambulating 50 ft wearing a NL-1000 accelerometer. Because of concerns for accelerometer accuracy in young children, 2 groups were created: 5 years or younger (n = 45) and 6 years or older (n = 30). Step counts recorded via accelerometer and video were compared and correlated.
  
  
  
  There was a significant difference in accelerometer and video step counts for 2- to 5-year-olds (W = 72.00, P < .001). No significant difference was found for 6- to 13-year-olds (W = 65.00, P = .24). Spearman ρ values were 0.78 and 0.92 for the 5 years or younger and 6 years or older groups, respectively.
  
  
  
  Accelerometers accurately count steps in 6- to 13-year-olds with ITW but are inaccurate in 2- to 5-year-olds.
authors.affiliation: The Division of Clinical Therapies, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Catie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maus
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014034:Toes; D014741:Video Recording