Concurrent Validity of the Polar s3 Stride Sensor for Measuring Walking Stride Velocity

Abstract

With this research, we sought to establish the accuracy of stride velocity data collected by the s3 Stride Sensor. Participants walked along a GAITRite mat at self-selected slow, preferred, and fast velocities, with two s3 Stride Sensors attached to their right foot. The start position was systematically varied such that the GAITRite system would record the second through sixth strides at each walking velocity. Both slow and preferred walking velocities were underestimated by 14% relative to the GAITRite (p < .05), while independent of walking velocity, Strides 2 and 3 were underestimated by 26% and 9% (p < .05), respectively. Researchers should use caution when interpreting data collected at slow and preferred walking velocities and during the first three strides.

Key words:

• accelerometer
• assessment
• gait
• physical activity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicole Grigg

The authors received no financial support for the preparation of this manuscript and have no competing interests directly related to the content. The second author is funded through a Smart Futures Fellowship, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland Government. Please address correspondence concerning this article to Nicole Grigg, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia 4059.