Accelerometry-derived physical activity patterns and clinical correlates in Swiss geriatric inpatients: a cross-sectional study
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Updated: Nov 6, 2026
A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers
Published on: April 21, 2017
Caroline Yvonne Tanner1, Frank Stoller2, Miriam Gähwiler2
1Department of Health, Physiotherapy, OST Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Background:
Physical activity among hospitalized geriatric patients is very low, contributing to functional decline and delayed recovery. However, posture-sensitive thigh-worn accelerometry has not yet been used to assess physical activity and its clinical correlates in Swiss acute geriatric inpatients. This multicenter cross-sectional study aimed to (a) quantify physical activity patterns and (b) examine associations with demographic and clinical characteristics.
Methods:
Inpatients from two acute geriatric care hospitals wore activPAL accelerometers for up to 7 consecutive days. The device recorded the duration of specific activity patterns, including walking, standing, sitting, and lying as well as step count and cadence. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including sex, age, locomotor capacity (de Morton Mobility Index, DEMMI), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE), comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index, CCI), independence in basic activities of daily living (Barthel Index, BI), gait capacity (10-Meter Walk Test, 10-MWT), and lower limb strength (hand-held dynamometry), were examined for their associations with upright time (i.e., standing and walking) using multiple linear regression.
Results:
Eighty-nine inpatients (mean age 83.7 ± 6.9 years; range 62-97 years; 64.0% women) were included in the final analysis. Upright time accounted for 12.4% of awake time (110.7 ± 74.8 min). Patients spent 2.1% of awake time walking, 10.3% standing, 75.5% sitting, and 12.0% lying. Walking corresponded to 19.0 ± 14.0 min/day and 1,278.7 ± 1,047.3 steps/day. The regression model explained 28.9% of the variance in upright time, with DEMMI, CCI, and knee extension strength showing the strongest associations.
Conclusions:
Acute geriatric inpatients were largely inactive, showing fragmented walking and prolonged sitting bouts. Simple assessments of locomotor capacity, comorbidity burden, and lower-limb strength may support stratification of geriatric inpatients according to their functional capacity and help inform individualized physical activity prescriptions.
