Comparison of habitual stepping cadence analysis methods: Relationship with step counts

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Stepping cadence calculation methods differ in their time denominators.
• This variability creates uncertainty regarding their association with total step counts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare three distinct methods for calculating stepping cadence.
• To determine the relationship between each cadence calculation method and total daily step counts.

Main Methods:

• 132 participants wore activPAL monitors for up to 8 days.
• Calculated stepping cadence using bout stepping rate, step accumulation, and awake cadence.
• Compared cadence methods and their correlation with total steps using Spearman's rank correlation.

Main Results:

• Bout stepping rate (85 steps/min) was higher than step accumulation (34 steps/min) and awake cadence (10 steps/min).
• Step accumulation and awake cadence showed stronger correlations with total step counts (ρ=0.634 and ρ=0.964, respectively) compared to bout stepping rate (ρ=0.497).
• Awake cadence had the strongest relationship with total step counts.

Conclusions:

• Stepping cadence calculated via step accumulation and awake cadence methods may underestimate intensity without precise time-in-stepping measures.
• These methods (step accumulation, awake cadence) are more closely related to total step counts than bout stepping rate.
• Bout stepping rate may offer a distinct measure of continuous stepping intensity, potentially clarifying unique health contributions separate from step counts.