Differentiating sitting and lying using a thigh-worn accelerometer

Lyden, K; John, D; Dall, P; Granat, MH

Abstract

A tri-axial accelerometer worn on the thigh can provide information on the angle of rotation of the thigh. These data may be used to estimate periods of lying versus sitting. Purpose: To
develop and test a classification algorithm to identify sedentary events as either lying or sitting events using a thigh-worn, tri-axial accelerometer. Methods: Seven day free-living activity from 14 sedentary workers was recorded using the activPAL3TM monitor. Participants recorded when they went to bed and when they got up in a diary. All “in bed” sedentary events were assumed to be lying and all “not in bed” sedentary events as sitting. An algorithm computed the angle of rotation of the y-axis, which was used to detect orientation of the thigh. Crossing a rotational threshold in the transverse plane of ±65was used to classify a sedentary event as lying. The classification accuracy of the algorithm was compared to self-reported classification from the diary. Results: The algorithm classified 96.7% of the sedentary time “in bed” (sensitivity) as lying and 92.9% of the time “not in bed” as not lying (specificity). Conclusion: Tri-axial accelerometer data recorded from a single site on the thigh can be used to classify sedentary events as sitting and lying. The automated method developed in this study will allow objective measurement of diurnal lying time and that while sleeping without relying on self-report. This will help advance the understanding of the impact of different types of sedentary behaviours on various health outcomes.

Citation

Lyden, K., John, D., Dall, P., & Granat, M. (2016). Differentiating sitting and lying using a thigh-worn accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 48(4), 742-747. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000804

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 22, 2015
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Nov 16, 2015
• Journal: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
• Print ISSN: 0195-9131
• Electronic ISSN: 1530-0315
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 742-747
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000804
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000804
• Related Public URLs: http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/pages/default.aspx