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Updated: Aug 28, 2025
A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers
Published on: April 21, 2017
Pain management in advanced cancer: physical activity as an outcome - accelerometer feasibility study
Sarah Lord1, Phillip Good2,3, Gregore Iven Mielke4
1Palliative Care Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia Sarah.Lord@health.qld.gov.au.
Objective:
Cancer pain is a common distressing symptom. Numerical Pain Scales (NPS) assess pain but lack information about function and quality of life. This feasibility study assesses the use of triaxial accelerometers to measure function as an outcome measure in pain studies in advanced cancer.
Methods:
Advanced cancer participants were recruited from two palliative care services, with an average pain score of ≥3 on NPS. ActiGraph wGT3X-BT Accelerometers were worn for 1 week on the wrist. Patients recorded daily pain scores, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) scores, and their daily opioid use.
Results:
24 participants were recruited. A total of 142 days of accelerometer data was collected (5.9 days/participant). The average daily step count was 5723.7. The average acceleration was 14.4 milligravity units/day. An average of 93 min/day total activity across all intensities was recorded. No correlation was seen between acceleration or average daily minutes in activity and total daily oral morphine equivalent, ESAS, 'average pain' score or 'worst pain' scores using spearman's correlation coefficients. Overall, participants were satisfied with the study.
Conclusions:
Accelerometers are a feasible method to measure activity as an outcome measure in advanced cancer. Further study is required to assess the impact of pain management strategies on function.
