Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Substantiating Appropriate Motion Capture Techniques for the Assessment of Nordic Walking Gait and Posture in Older Adults
Published on: May 12, 2016
Validation of a method for estimating energy expenditure during walking in middle-aged adults
Nathan Caron1, Teddy Caderby1, Nicolas Peyrot1
1IRISSE Laboratory (EA4075), UFR SHE, University of La Réunion, 117 rue du General Ailleret, 97430, Le Tampon, La Réunion, France.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to test the validity of a method using an inertial measurement unit for estimating activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) during walking in middle-aged adults.
Methods:
Twenty healthy middle-aged participants completed different treadmill walking trials with an inertial measurement unit adhered to their lower back. Gas exchange was monitored with indirect calorimetry. Mechanical data were used to estimate AEE from an algorithm developed by Bouten et al. (Med Sci Sport Exer 26(12):1516-1523, 1994). Three methods for removing the gravitational component were proposed and tested: mean subtraction method (MSM), high-pass filter method (HPM) and free acceleration method (FAM).
Results:
The three methods did not differ significantly from the indirect calorimetry [bias = - 0.08 kcal min-1; p = 0.47 (MSM), bias = - 0.08 kcal min-1; p = 0.48 (HPM) and bias = - 0.15 kcal min-1; p = 0.23 (FAM)]. Mean root mean square errors were 0.43, 0.42 and 0.51 kcal min-1 for MSM, HPM and FAM, respectively.
Conclusion:
This study proposed an accurate method for estimating AEE in middle-aged adults for a large range of walking intensities, from slow to brisk walking, based on Bouten's algorithm.
