Validation of steps countering recorded with a smartwatch.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Wearable Technology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Activity trackers are increasingly prevalent in daily life, sports, and research.
• Accurate step counting is crucial for monitoring physical activity and promoting health.
• Modern sensor technology allows for unobtrusive, long-term wear of activity trackers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of a commercial wrist-worn pedometer (Garmin Forerunner 245 Music) in recording step counts.
• To compare the pedometer's step data against a camera-based system.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one subjects participated in a laboratory-based comparative study.
• Subjects ran at various speeds wearing the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music watch on each wrist.
• Step counts from the watch were compared to those recorded by a camera system using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman plots.

Main Results:

• High correlation was observed between the pedometer and camera system on treadmills.
• A low correlation and systematic overestimation of steps were noted on the step machine.
• Bland-Altman plots indicated results were within acceptable limits of agreement.

Conclusions:

• Commercially available pedometers, like the Garmin watch, offer convenience but have limitations.
• The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music watch demonstrates sufficient accuracy for treadmill running environments.
• Potential inaccuracies exist, particularly on non-treadmill exercise equipment.