Comparison of accelerometers with oxygen consumption in older adults during exercise

Abstract

Comparison of accelerometers with oxygen consumption in older adults during exercise. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 171-175, 1999. The purpose of this study was to compare two commercially available accelerometers with indirect calorimetry in a group of older adults (x ± SD; 70.6 ± 3.7 yr; N = 86, 44 males and 42 females). The accelerometers (Caltrac and Tritrac, Hemokinetics, Madison, WI) were worn while performing three submaximal, discontinuous (5 min exercise, 2 min recovery), progressive levels of treadmill walking and bench stepping. The treadmill exercise averaged 3.4 mph, at 0.4% grade, 3.0% grade, and 5.1% grade, while the stepping work rates (24 steps·min−1) were performed on 15.2-, 20.3-, and 25.4-cm steps. Estimated energy expenditure (EE) from the two accelerometers was compared with EE as measured by indirect calorimetry. The Caltrac significantly (P P These data indicate that the magnitude of the differences between measured and estimated EE is affected by exercise mode and intensity and that caution is warranted when using the accelerometers in an attempt to quantify EE in older adults.