Validity of the Acti4 method for detection of physical activity types in free-living settings: comparison with video analysis

Ingunn Stemlandab, Jørgen Ingebrigtsena, Caroline S. Christiansena, Bente R. Jensenb, Christiana Hanischc, Jørgen Skottea & Andreas Holtermanna*a National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmarkb Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmarkc Department of Work and Health, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Berlin, Germany*Corresponding author. Email: aho@nrcwe.dkThis study examined the ability of the Acti4 software for identifying physical activity types from accelerometers during free-living with different levels of movement complexity compared with video observations. Nineteen aircraft cabin cleaners with ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer at the thigh and hip performed one semi-standardised and two non-standardised sessions (outside and inside aircraft) with different levels of movement complexity during working hours. The sensitivity for identifying different activity types was 75.4–99.4% for the semi-standardised session, 54.6–98.5% outside the aircraft and 49.9–90.2% inside the aircraft. The specificity was above 90% for all activities, except ‘moving’ inside the aircraft. These findings indicate that Acti4 provides good estimates of time spent in different activity types during semi-standardised conditions, and for sitting, standing and walking during non-standardised conditions with normal level of movement complexity. The Acti4 software may be a useful tool for researchers and practitioners in the field of ergonomics, occupational and public health.Practitioner Summary: Being inexpensive, small, water-resistant and without wires, the ActiGraph GT3X+ by applying the Acti4 software may be a useful tool for long-term field measurements of physical activity types for researchers and practitioners in the field of ergonomics, occupational and public health.