Accelerometry data in health research: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

AbstractWearable accelerometers provide detailed, objective, and continu-ous measurements of physical activity (PA). Recent advances in technology and the decreasing cost of wearable devices led to an explosion in the popula-rity of wearable technology in health research. An ever increasing number of studies collect high-throughput, sub-second level raw acceleration data. In this paper we discuss problems related to the collection and analysis of raw acce-lerometry data and provide insights into potential solutions. In particular, we describe the size and complexity of the data, the within- and between-subject variability and the effects of sensor location on the body. We also provide a short tutorial for dealing with sampling frequency, device calibration, data labeling and multiple PA monitors synchronization. We illustrate these po-ints using the Developmental Epidemiological Cohort Study (DECOS), which collected raw accelerometry data on individuals both in a controlled and the free-living environment.