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Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption
Published on: June 20, 2025
An accelerometer-based earpiece to monitor and quantify physical activity
Chinmay Manohar1, Shelly McCrady, Ioannis T Pavlidis
1Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Journal of Physical Activity & Health
|January 28, 2010
Summary
The novel physical-activity-sensing earpiece (PASE) accurately detects and measures physical activity intensity and energy expenditure. This wearable technology reliably monitors free-living physical activity for health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Wearable Technology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Physical activity is crucial for managing ill-health.
- Accurate and accessible devices are needed to assess daily activity levels.
- Novel activity-sensing technology integrated into an earpiece (PASE) was developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and precision of the PASE in detecting physical activity.
- To assess the PASE's ability to measure physical activity intensity.
- To determine if the PASE can predict energy expenditure.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: 18 subjects wore PASE during various postures and graded walking, with energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry.
- Experiment 2: 8 subjects wore PASE while walking a known distance.
- Experiment 3: 8 subjects wore PASE while 'jogging' at 3.5 mph.
Main Results:
- PASE accurately distinguished between lying, sitting/standing, and walking (76/76 cases).
- PASE output showed strong correlation with walking velocity and energy expenditure (r2 > .9).
- PASE accurately predicted free-living walking velocity and distinguished walking from jogging at the same speed (P < .001).
Conclusions:
- Subjects tolerated the PASE well, reporting comfort during wear.
- The PASE reliably monitors free-living physical activity.
- The PASE accurately measures associated energy expenditure.
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