A1 Journal article (refereed)
Individual scaling of accelerometry to preferred walking speed in the assessment of physical activity in older adults (2020)
Karavirta, L., Rantalainen, T., Skantz, H., Lisko, I., Portegijs, E., & Rantanen, T. (2020). Individual scaling of accelerometry to preferred walking speed in the assessment of physical activity in older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series A : Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 75(9), e111-e118. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa142
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Karavirta, Laura; Rantalainen, Timo; Skantz, Heidi; Lisko, Inna; Portegijs, Erja; Rantanen, Taina
Journal or series: Journals of Gerontology Series A : Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
ISSN: 1079-5006
eISSN: 1758-535X
Publication year: 2020
Volume: 75
Issue number: 9
Pages range: e111-e118
Publisher: Oxford University Press; Gerontological Society of America
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa142
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/69881
Abstract
Walking forms a large portion of physical activity (PA) of older adults. We assessed free-living PA using acceleration corresponding to preferred walking speed as a relative cut-point, and studied how it relates to age. We compared the relative cut-point to a common absolute cut-point of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA).
Methods
444 community-dwelling adults aged 75, 80 and 85 wore an accelerometer on the thigh during a PA surveillance period and a modified six-minute walking test (6MWT) at preferred speed. Each individual’s mean acceleration (g) during the 6MWT was used as a cut-point for relative PA. Acceleration corresponding to three metabolic equivalents (METs) was used as the cut-point for absolute MVPA.
Results
When using the acceleration of preferred walking speed as a cut-point, 62 (SD 82) minutes a week of relative PA was detected, compared to 228 (163) minutes of absolute MVPA. For 96 % of the participants, the acceleration generated by their preferred walking speed exceeded the common absolute cut-point for MVPA. Absolute MVPA was lower in the older age groups, and 6MWT speed explained 22 % of its variation (p<0.001), whereas relative PA was independent of walking speed and age.
Conclusions
Preferred walking speed was a significant contributor to absolute MVPA, and those who walked the slowest accumulated the least MVPA. Assessing relative PA using the intensity of preferred walking speed as a cut-point eliminated the dependency of PA on age and walking speed, and may be a feasible scaling option to evaluate relative PA among older people.
Keywords: physical activity; walking (motion); older people; performance (capacity); measurement
Free keywords: exercise intensity; physical performance; accelerometer; cut-point
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Are older people becoming younger?
Cohort differences in perceived age and functional capacity among 75- and 80-year-old people assessed 28 years apart (The Evergreen 2)- Rantanen, Taina
- Research Council of Finland
- Active ageing - resilience and external support as modifiers of the disablement outcome
- Rantanen, Taina
- European Commission
- Bodily movement and sustaining quality of life in old age
- Rantalainen, Timo
- Research Council of Finland
- Bodily movement and sustaining quality of life in old age research costs)
- Rantalainen, Timo
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2020
JUFO rating: 3
