Reliability of a smartphone application to measure physical activity

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate how accurate is a smartphone app to measure a physical activity parameter (steps). Physical Education undergraduate students (n = 46), both male and female, were recruited. A tally counter, a validated device (Xiaomi Mi Band 2®) and My Active Life app were used to perform the steps count. Each participant took three low-intensity treadmill walks (5 km h⁻¹), with a number of target steps (500-, 1000- and 1500-steps walk). Visual agreement analyses was performed through Bland-Altman plots. There was no significant interaction between steps walks and device during treadmill walking test (F_(2,84) = 3.854; p = 0.07). Differences in steps measured by Mi Band were not different from 0 in 500-steps walk (p = 0.243) and 1000-steps walk (p = 0.350), and in My Active Life in 500-steps walk (p = 0.177) and 1500-steps walk (p = 0.221). Bland-Altman analyses indicated an acceptable agreement between My active Life app and Mi Band devices for 1000-steps walk (−359.01; 310.43) and 1500-steps walk (−572.97; 377.11). In conclusion, My Active Life app showed accuracy in measuring total steps, in longer walking activities (e.g. higher than 1000 steps), and can be used on a daily basis and in research setting.

KEYWORDS:

• Data accuracy
• pedometer
• android applications
• physical activity

Acknowledgments

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethics

The study was approved by Ethics Committee from Superior School of Physical Education, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil (CAAE number 09863719.6.0000.5313).