Measuring step count: Why it is important not to assume measures are reliable

C. J. Minns Lowe; C. Isaac; P. Kelly; K. L. Barker

doi:10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.003

Measuring step count: Why it is important not to assume measures are reliable

C. J. Minns Lowe^*, C. Isaac, P. Kelly, K. L. Barker

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

Background: The validity and reliability of pedometer software Apps versus the previously investigated spring lever and piezoelectric pedometers is unknown. Purpose: To evaluate the validity and reliability (in adults aged 18–65) of two pedometer software Apps, the Walk Star and the Accupedo, with spring lever (Digi-Walker CW 700) and piezoelectric (Omron HJ-720ITC and Tanita PD-724) pedometers in the measurement of step count. The criterion for comparison was researcher tallied direct observation of step count using an electronic E3-EHT hand held tally counter. Methods: Eighteen participants walked for 5 minutes on a treadmill at slow (2 miles per hour) moderate (3 miles per hour) and fast walking (4 miles per hour) speeds and on urban streets and upon grass at a perceived “comfortable” walking speed. Results: Bland and Altman plots show wide limits of agreement observed for the Yamax CW 700, Accupedo App and Walk Star App, suggesting these pedometers are unsuitable for measuring step counts in individuals due to high random error (indicating low reliability). Narrow limits of agreement were observed for the Omron HJ-720ITC and the Tanita PD-724 pedometers compared against Tally count and were considered suitable for use. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of pedometers cannot be assumed but must be tested and ensured before use in measuring step count.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-4
Number of pages	4
Journal	Physiotherapy (United Kingdom)
Volume	110
Early online date	27 Aug 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.003
Publication status	Published - Mar 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

pedometer
reliability
step count
validity

Access to Document

10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.003

Cite this

@article{6d12951d0c5746c9bc4adea0990e2e0a,

title = "Measuring step count: Why it is important not to assume measures are reliable",

abstract = "Background: The validity and reliability of pedometer software Apps versus the previously investigated spring lever and piezoelectric pedometers is unknown. Purpose: To evaluate the validity and reliability (in adults aged 18–65) of two pedometer software Apps, the Walk Star and the Accupedo, with spring lever (Digi-Walker CW 700) and piezoelectric (Omron HJ-720ITC and Tanita PD-724) pedometers in the measurement of step count. The criterion for comparison was researcher tallied direct observation of step count using an electronic E3-EHT hand held tally counter. Methods: Eighteen participants walked for 5 minutes on a treadmill at slow (2 miles per hour) moderate (3 miles per hour) and fast walking (4 miles per hour) speeds and on urban streets and upon grass at a perceived “comfortable” walking speed. Results: Bland and Altman plots show wide limits of agreement observed for the Yamax CW 700, Accupedo App and Walk Star App, suggesting these pedometers are unsuitable for measuring step counts in individuals due to high random error (indicating low reliability). Narrow limits of agreement were observed for the Omron HJ-720ITC and the Tanita PD-724 pedometers compared against Tally count and were considered suitable for use. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of pedometers cannot be assumed but must be tested and ensured before use in measuring step count.",

keywords = "pedometer, reliability, step count, validity",

author = "{Minns Lowe}, {C. J.} and C. Isaac and P. Kelly and Barker, {K. L.}",

note = "Funding Information: Ethical approval: Ethical approval for the study was granted by University of Oxford Ethic ref: MSD-IDREC-C1-2013-164. Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust (Ref PA/13/22). The views presented in this article belong to the authors and should not be assumed to reflect those of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Conflict of interests: Professor Karen Barker is an Associate Editor for Physiotherapy. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.003",

language = "English",

volume = "110",

pages = "1--4",

journal = "Physiotherapy (United Kingdom)",

issn = "0031-9406",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Measuring step count

T2 - Why it is important not to assume measures are reliable

AU - Minns Lowe, C. J.

AU - Isaac, C.

AU - Kelly, P.

AU - Barker, K. L.

N1 - Funding Information: Ethical approval: Ethical approval for the study was granted by University of Oxford Ethic ref: MSD-IDREC-C1-2013-164. Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust (Ref PA/13/22). The views presented in this article belong to the authors and should not be assumed to reflect those of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Conflict of interests: Professor Karen Barker is an Associate Editor for Physiotherapy. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - Background: The validity and reliability of pedometer software Apps versus the previously investigated spring lever and piezoelectric pedometers is unknown. Purpose: To evaluate the validity and reliability (in adults aged 18–65) of two pedometer software Apps, the Walk Star and the Accupedo, with spring lever (Digi-Walker CW 700) and piezoelectric (Omron HJ-720ITC and Tanita PD-724) pedometers in the measurement of step count. The criterion for comparison was researcher tallied direct observation of step count using an electronic E3-EHT hand held tally counter. Methods: Eighteen participants walked for 5 minutes on a treadmill at slow (2 miles per hour) moderate (3 miles per hour) and fast walking (4 miles per hour) speeds and on urban streets and upon grass at a perceived “comfortable” walking speed. Results: Bland and Altman plots show wide limits of agreement observed for the Yamax CW 700, Accupedo App and Walk Star App, suggesting these pedometers are unsuitable for measuring step counts in individuals due to high random error (indicating low reliability). Narrow limits of agreement were observed for the Omron HJ-720ITC and the Tanita PD-724 pedometers compared against Tally count and were considered suitable for use. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of pedometers cannot be assumed but must be tested and ensured before use in measuring step count.

AB - Background: The validity and reliability of pedometer software Apps versus the previously investigated spring lever and piezoelectric pedometers is unknown. Purpose: To evaluate the validity and reliability (in adults aged 18–65) of two pedometer software Apps, the Walk Star and the Accupedo, with spring lever (Digi-Walker CW 700) and piezoelectric (Omron HJ-720ITC and Tanita PD-724) pedometers in the measurement of step count. The criterion for comparison was researcher tallied direct observation of step count using an electronic E3-EHT hand held tally counter. Methods: Eighteen participants walked for 5 minutes on a treadmill at slow (2 miles per hour) moderate (3 miles per hour) and fast walking (4 miles per hour) speeds and on urban streets and upon grass at a perceived “comfortable” walking speed. Results: Bland and Altman plots show wide limits of agreement observed for the Yamax CW 700, Accupedo App and Walk Star App, suggesting these pedometers are unsuitable for measuring step counts in individuals due to high random error (indicating low reliability). Narrow limits of agreement were observed for the Omron HJ-720ITC and the Tanita PD-724 pedometers compared against Tally count and were considered suitable for use. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of pedometers cannot be assumed but must be tested and ensured before use in measuring step count.

KW - pedometer

KW - reliability

KW - step count

KW - validity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096387711&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.003

DO - 10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.003

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 33227546

AN - SCOPUS:85096387711

SN - 0031-9406

VL - 110

SP - 1

EP - 4

JO - Physiotherapy (United Kingdom)

JF - Physiotherapy (United Kingdom)

ER -

Measuring step count: Why it is important not to assume measures are reliable

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this