Reliability of the Actigraph GT3X+ Accelerometer in Adults under Free-Living Conditions

Eivind Aadland, Einar Ylvisåker, Eivind Aadland, Einar Ylvisåker

Abstract

Background: Reliability of the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer has not been determined under normal wear time criteria in a large sample of subjects and accelerometer units. The aim of this study was to assess contralateral hip difference and inter-instrument reliability of the Actigraph GT3X+ monitor in adults under long-term free-living conditions.

Methods: Eighty-seven adult subjects (28 men; mean (standard deviation) age 31.3 (12.2) years; body mass index 23.7 (3.1) kg/m2) concurrently wore two GT3X+ accelerometers (174 units in total) attached to contralateral hips for 21 days. Reliability was assessed using Bland-Altman plots, mixed model regression analyses and absolute measures of agreement for different lengths of data accumulation (single-day-, 7-day- and 21-day periods).

Results: There were no significant differences between contralateral hips (effect size ≤0.042; p ≥.213). Inter-instrument reliability increased with increased length of data-accumulation. For a 7-day measurement period (n = 232 weeks), limits of agreement were ±68 cpm (vertical axis) and ±81.3 cpm (vector magnitude) for overall physical activity (PA) level, ±51 min for sedentary time, ±18.2 min for light PA, ±6.3 min for moderate PA, ±3.5 min for vigorous PA, and ±6.7 min for moderate-to-vigorous PA.

Conclusions: The Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer is a reliable tool for measuring PA in adults under free-living conditions using normal data-reduction criteria. Contralateral hip differences are very small. We suggest accelerometers be attached to the right hip and data to be accumulated over several days of measurement.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Bland Altman plots (the difference (right—left) between two accelerometer units on the y-axis versus the mean of the two units on the x-axis) for average counts per minute (CPM) from the vertical axis (a-c), sedentary time (SED) (d-f) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (g-i) for single days of measurement (n = 1397 person-days), 7-day periods of measurement (n = 232 person-weeks) and 21-day periods of measurement (n = 80). 95% limits of agreement are indicated as dotted lines.

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