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Tummy Time Tracking: Concurrent-Validity of Wearable Sensors in Home Settings for Term and Preterm Infants
Ketaki Inamdar1,2, Stacey C Dusing1,2, Leroy R Thacker1,2
1Department of Human Performance, Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA (Dr Inamdar); Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Dr Dusing); Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA (Dr Thacker); Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA (Drs Inamdar, Pidcoe, and Finucane); Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA (Dr Manning, and Dr Chu).
Insights
Wearable sensors GENEActiv (GA) and MonBaby (MB) accurately track infant tummy time at home. These devices can help ensure babies meet movement guidelines, supporting healthy development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Infant Development
Background:
- Tummy time is crucial for infant motor development and achieving developmental milestones.
- Accurate tracking of tummy time is essential for monitoring adherence to recommended guidelines.
- Wearable sensor technology offers a potential solution for objective and continuous monitoring of infant physical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the concurrent validity of two wearable sensors, GENEActiv (GA) and MonBaby (MB), in tracking tummy time.
- To compare the accuracy of GA and MB sensors against video recordings for measuring prone (tummy time) durations in infants.
- To assess the reliability of these sensors for home-based monitoring of infant physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen full-term and 13 preterm infants (3-6 months) participated in the study.
- Infants wore both GA and MB sensors during supervised active play at home for three days.
- Sensor-detected prone durations were validated against caregiver video recordings.
Main Results:
- Both GA and MB sensors showed high agreement with video data for second-by-second tummy time tracking (κ=0.86 for GA, κ=0.78 for MB).
- The GA sensor demonstrated slightly higher accuracy for cumulative tummy time (2-minute difference from video) compared to the MB sensor (4-minute difference).
- No significant differences in overall accuracy were observed between the two sensors.
Conclusions:
- Wearable sensors are reliable tools for accurately tracking infant tummy time in a home environment.
- These sensors can aid in promoting adherence to recommended infant movement guidelines.
- Further research into caregiver feasibility is necessary for widespread adoption of these technologies.
Purpose:
To assess the concurrent validity of 2 wearable sensors, GENEActiv (GA) and MonBaby (MB), for tracking tummy time in full-term and preterm infants at home.
Methods:
Nineteen full-term infants and 13 infants born preterm, aged 3 to 6 months, wore GA and MB sensors during caregivervideo-recorded active play at home over 3 days. Prone (tummy time) durations detected by each sensor were compared to video for validation.
Results:
Both GA and MB sensors demonstrated excellent (κ = 0.86) and substantial (κ = 0.78) second-by-second agreement with video, respectively, for tracking tummy time. For cumulative tummy time, the GA showed higher accuracy with video (GA =60 minutes, video =58 minutes, difference =2 minutes) compared to MB (MB =43 minutes, video =47 minutes, difference =4 minutes). No differences in accuracy were found between the 2 sensors.
Conclusion:
Wearable sensors can accurately track tummy time at home and can support adherence to movement guidelines in infants. Establishing caregiver feasibility is crucial for broader use.
