Statistical considerations in the analysis of accelerometry-based activity monitor data

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012 Jan;44(1 Suppl 1):S61-7. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182399e0f.

Abstract

We review and discuss three statistical aspects of accelerometer-based estimates of physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE):1) the nature of the relationship between accelerometer output and PAEE;2) statistical aspects of calibration studies; and 3) two specialized statistical methods that are applicable to the problem of measurement error modeling and missing data methods.We call for a continuing development of statistical methods that use more characteristics of the accelerometer signal to estimate PAEE, advocate the use of bias and SE statistics and inclusion of cross-validation in accelerometer research designs, and encourage more efforts to understand systematic and random errors in accelerometer-based estimates of PAEE.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Motor Activity / physiology*