Methods of Physical Activity Assessment for Older Adults

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Introduction: This study examined the validity of several methods of physical activity assessment in older adults. The physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) used included two designed for use with older adults known as the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and one designed for use in the general population, the 7 Day Physical Activity Recall (PAR). These PAQs along with one accelerometer, the ActiGraph GT1M (GT1M), were examined in comparison to the criterion method, the SenseWear Pro 3 Armband (SP3). Methods: Participants (n = 36; age = 69.7 ± 5.9 years) wore the SP3 and the GT1M for seven days. At the end of the seven days, participants completed the YPAS, PASE, and PAR. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to examine significant relationships. Paired samples t-tests and Bland-Altman plots investigated further differences between methods. Results: GT1M’s estimates of daily steps were not significantly correlated (r = .369) with SP3 assessment of daily steps. The ACT-F (r = .620) and ACT-C (r = .524) equations each demonstrated a significant (P<0.01) correlation with SP3 estimates of physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE). Bland-Altman analysis indicated that the ACT-C underestimated PAEE by an average of 184 kcal/day. The PAR was the only one PAQ to demonstrate any significant associations with the SP3. These relationships include the PAR PAEE with SP3 PAEE (r = 4.64, P≤0.05), SP3 total energy expenditure (TEE) (r = .556, P≤0.01), SP3 physical activity (PA) (r = .394, P≤0.05) and the PAR PA with SP3 PA (r = .376, P≤0.05). Bland-Altman plot assessments indicated that the PAR overestimated PAEE (1007 kcal/day) and PA (1294 min/week) more than