[How to use motion sensors in a pediatric clinic?]

Physical activity is a key construct for growth, development and maturation of children. Regular physical activity contributes to the prevention of a number of chronic diseases and their risk factors already present from an early age. Thus, physical activity counseling should be included into the routine of pediatricians. This involves a detailed assessment of different dimensions of physical activity and its associated behaviors. Indeed, the relevance of any clinical decision also depends on the performance of the tools used to evaluate targeted parameters, including physical activity. To assess physical activity of children, the use of motion sensors (pedometers and accelerometers) proved to be a good compromise between validity, reliability, accuracy and cost. However, the use of motion sensors also raises some practical problems because of complex technologies, and especially the lack of instant results. One way to overcome this shortcoming would be to outsource the assessment of movement behaviors by developing a partnership with dedicated structures. In practice, if pedometry seems appropriate for the promotion of physical activity in children, accelerometry seems more efficient for an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis, providing rich information on the overall profile of a child. The fact remains that in paediatric setting, taking into account the child-reported outcomes still important to guide the practitioner in both analyses and any necessary therapeutic decision.