Wrist-worn Triaxial Accelerometry Predicts the Energy Expenditure of Non-vigorous Daily Physical Activities

Objectives: Triaxial accelerometry is commonly used to estimate oxygen uptake (VO) and energy expenditure in health and fitness studies. We tested the correlation of a triaxial accelerometer in terms of a summation of vector magnitudes with gravity subtracted (SVMgs) and measured VO for different daily physical activities.

Design: Original research, cross-sectional.

Methods: Twenty volunteers wore a triaxial accelerometer on both wrists while performing 12 assigned daily physical activities for 6min for each activity. The VO was determined by indirect calorimetry using a portable metabolic measurement system. The last 3min of each activity was assumed to represent steady-state. The VO measured during these periods was averaged and converted into metabolic equivalents (METs).

Results: The range of VO for all activities was 0.18-3.2L/min (0.8-12.2 METs). Significant differences in SVMgs existed between accelerometer placements on the dominant (120.9±8.7gmin) versus non-dominant hand (99.9±6.8gmin; P=0.016) for the lowest levels of physical activity defined as <1.5 METs. Piecewise linear regression model using 6 METs as the transition point showed similar significant correlations for the non-dominant wrist (r=0.85; P<0.001) and the dominant wrist (r=0.86; P<0.001). Using the non-dominant wrist below 6 METs, the slope of the relationship between SVMgs and METs was 105.3±4.3 (95% CI 96.9 to 113.7) indicating an increase in SVMgs of approximately 100 units for every MET increase in oxygen uptake.

Conclusions: Wrist-worn triaxial accelerometry reliably predicted energy expenditure during common physical activities <6 METs. More consistent correlations were found when the accelerometer was worn on the non-dominant wrist rather than the dominant wrist.