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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption
Published on: June 20, 2025
Light-intensity activities are important for estimating physical activity energy expenditure using uniaxial and
Yosuke Yamada1, Keiichi Yokoyama, Risa Noriyasu
1Laboratory of Sports Science and Human Motor Control, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshidanihonmatu, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the validity of the total energy expenditure (TEE) estimated using uniaxial (ACCuni) and triaxial (ACCtri) accelerometers in the elderly. Thirty-two healthy elderly (64-87 years) participated in this study. TEE was measured using the doubly labeled water (DLW) method (TEE(DLW)). TEE(ACCuni) (6.79 +/- 1.08 MJ day(-1)) was significantly lower than TEE(DLW) (7.85 +/- 1.54 MJ day(-1)) and showed wider limits of agreement (-3.15 to 1.12 MJ day(-1)) with a smaller correlation coefficient (r = 0.703). TEE(ACCtri) (7.88 +/- 1.27 MJ day(-1)) did not differ from TEE(DLW) and showed narrower limits of agreement (-1.64 to 1.72 MJ day(-1)) with a larger correlation coefficient (r = 0.835, P < 0.001). The estimated intensities of light activities were significantly lower with ACCuni. Greater mediolateral acceleration was observed during 6-min walk tests. The results suggest that ACCtri is a better choice than ACCuni for assessing TEE in the elderly.
