Dataset Information

Measurement Performance of Activity Measurements with Newer Generation of Apple Watch in Wheelchair Users with Spinal Cord Injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The level of physical activity (PA) of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) has an impact on long-term complications. Currently, PA is mostly assessed by interviews. Wearable activity trackers are promising tools to objectively measure PA under everyday conditions. The only off-the-shelf, wearable activity tracker with specific measures for wheelchair users is the Apple Watch.

Objectives

This study analyzes the measurement performance of Apple Watch Series 4 for wheelchair users and compares it with an earlier generation of the device.

Methods

Fifteen participants with subacute SCI during their first in-patient phase followed a test course using their wheelchair. The number of wheelchair pushes was counted manually by visual inspection and with the Apple Watch. Difference between the Apple Watch and the rater was analyzed with mean absolute percent error (MAPE) and a Bland-Altman plot. To compare the measurement error of Series 4 and an older generation of the device a t-test was calculated using data for Series 1 from a former study.

Results

The average of differences was 12.33 pushes (n = 15), whereas participants pushed the wheelchair 138.4 times on average (range 86-271 pushes). The range of difference and the Bland-Altman plot indicate an overestimation by Apple Watch. MAPE is 9.20% and the t-test, testing for an effect of Series 4 on the percentage of error compared with Series 1, was significant with p < 0.05.

Conclusion

Series 4 shows a significant improvement in measurement performance compared with Series 1. Series 4 can be considered as a promising data source to capture the number of wheelchair pushes on even grounds. Future research should analyze the long-term measurement performance during everyday conditions of Series 4.

SUBMITTER: Benning NH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8714299 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:INTRODUCTION:Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are a growing concern for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Physical inactivity contributes to cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality in the SCI population. However, previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the effects of exercise on cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with SCI. This discrepancy could be influenced by insufficient exercise stimuli. Recent guidelines recommend 30 min of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise, three times per week, for improvement in cardiometabolic health in individuals with SCI. However, to date, no studies have implemented an exercise intervention matching the new recommendations to examine the effects on cardiometabolic risk factors. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to determine the effects of 12 weeks of wheelchair user-modified upper-body rowing exercise on both traditional (constituents of the metabolic syndrome) and novel (eg, vascular structure and function) cardiometabolic risk factors in manual wheelchair users with SCI. METHODS AND ANALYSIS:A randomised controlled trial will compare 12 weeks of upper-body rowing exercise, 30 min three times per week, with a control group continuing their normal lifestyle. Outcome measurements will be performed immediately before (baseline), after 6 weeks (halfway), 12 weeks of training (post) and 6 months after the termination of the intervention period (follow-up). Outcomes will include inflammatory (eg, C reactive protein) and metabolic biomarkers determined from venous blood (with serum fasting insulin as primary outcome), body composition, arterial blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness level, brachial artery vascular structure and function and autonomic nervous system function. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:This trial is reported to the Danish Data Protection Agency (J.nr. 2019-899/10-0406) and approved by the Committees on Health Research Ethics in The North Denmark Region on 12 December 2019 (J.nr. N-20190053). The principal investigator will collect written informed consent from all participants prior to inclusion. Irrespective of study outcomes, the results will be submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals for publication. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:NCT04390087.