Wrist-based accelerometer cut-points for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity in Parkinson's...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Movement Science
• Neurology

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with low physical activity levels.
• Current methods for measuring moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using accelerometers may not be accurate for individuals with PD when using wrist-worn devices.
• Wrist-worn devices offer potential for improved accessibility and compliance in monitoring physical activity for PD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between wrist-based activity counts and energy expenditure during treadmill walking in individuals with PD.
• To determine if cut-points for quantifying MVPA differ between individuals with PD and age- and sex-matched controls.

Main Methods:

• 26 individuals with mild-to-moderate PD and 27 matched controls participated.
• Participants completed treadmill walking at varying speeds while wearing wrist-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers.
• Energy expenditure was measured using portable open-circuit spirometry.

Main Results:

• A strong association was found between activity counts and energy expenditure in both groups (R² ≈ 0.94-0.95).
• The cut-point for MVPA in individuals with PD was significantly lower (2883 counts·min⁻¹) compared to controls (4389 counts·min⁻¹).

Conclusions:

• A specific cut-point for wrist-worn accelerometers was established for individuals with PD.
• This PD-specific cut-point may enhance the accuracy of measuring MVPA in this population.