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BMC Medical Research Methodology
Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Technical advance

Translation equations to compare ActiGraph GT3X and Actical accelerometers activity counts

Authors: Leon Straker, Amity Campbell

Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

This study aimed to develop a translation equation to enable comparison between Actical and ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer counts recorded minute by minute.

Methods

Five males and five females of variable height, weight, body mass index and age participated in this investigation. Participants simultaneously wore an Actical and an ActiGraph accelerometer for two days. Conversion algorithms and R2 were calculated day by day for each subject between the omnidirectional Actical and three different ActiGraph (three-dimensional) outputs: 1) vertical direction, 2) combined vector, and 3) a custom vector. Three conversion algorithms suitable for minute/minute conversions were then calculated from the full data set.

Results

The vertical ActiGraph activity counts demonstrated the closest relationship with the Actical, with consistent moderate to strong conversions using the algorithm: y = 0.905x, in the day by day data (R2 range: 0.514 to 0.989 and average: 0.822) and full data set (R2 = 0.865).

Conclusions

The Actical is most sensitive to accelerations in the vertical direction, and does not closely correlate with three-dimensional ActiGraph output. Minute by minute conversions between the Actical and ActiGraph vertical component can be confidently performed between data sets and might allow further synthesis of information between studies.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Translation equations to compare ActiGraph GT3X and Actical accelerometers activity counts
Authors
Leon Straker
Amity Campbell
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Research Methodology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-54

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