Physical Activity and Outcome Measures

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Objective[edit | edit source]

For clinical and research purposes, measuring physical activity is vital for studying and evaluating its health benefits.

Being a variable with many dimensions (frequency, intensity, mode, duration, volume, context), there is no standardized outcome measure for physical activity, hence, the choice of assessment/proxy measure of physical activity is dependent on which dimension is being studied.

Intended Population[edit | edit source]

Physical activity can be measured across all age groups and health spectrum, with choice of tool dependent on the type of activity being examined.

Preschool children (2-5 years)

Children (6-12 years)

Adolescents (13-17 years)

Adults (18-64 years)

Older adults (65+)

Method of Use[edit | edit source]

Physical activity can be measured using different techniques[1] such as:

Method of measurement Unit of measurement
Self-report Bouts of physical actvity
Activity monitors/motion sensors Movement counts
Heart rate Beats per minute
Pedometers Step counts
Direct observation Activity rating
Indirect calorimetry Oxygen consumption
Doubly labelled water Carbon dioxide production

Self-report Techniques[edit | edit source]

The self-report approach to measuring physical activity is one that is commonly used because of its affordability, low respondent burden and ability to capture large population in a shorter time frame[2]. It relies on the ability of participants to recall their physical activity in retrospect, and can be documented by use of a questionnaire, either self-administered or interview-administered[3] or by daily logs and diaries[4].

Self-report physical activity instruments can be further classified into:

Physical Activity Records & Diaries[edit | edit source]

While logs involve the participants documenting the amount of time spent in broad categories of activity (sitting, standing, walking), records/diary require the participant to record the individual sessions of activity as they occur prospectively[5]. Examples include: Physical activity log book[6] and Bouchard’s activity diary[7].

Gobal Self-report[edit | edit source]

When the objective of the researcher or clinician is to stratify an individual’s level of physical activity as either high or low using generic terms, self-report assessments are usually used[8]. This involves using an instrument that contains one to four items to identify the physical activity pattern of the individual, in a specific domain over a specific period of time[9].

Recall Questionnaires[edit | edit source]

In surveillance studies, the physical activity patterns of participants are quantified using short and easy instruments that contain less than 15 items[3]. Data from these questions can further be described and individuals classified into broad categories.  

Quantitive History Questionnaire[edit | edit source]

When the objective of the researcher is to capture the physical activity patterns of participants over multiple domains, a more detailed approach of assessment such as the quantitative history questionnaire is used. This usually entails more questions over multiple segments designed to provide comprehensive information on the physical activity patterns over a period of time such as a day, week, month or year[6] [5].

Objective Monitors[edit | edit source]

The use of monitoring devices such as accelerometers, pedometers and heart rate monitors in measuring physical activity have been made possible through recent advances in technology[10]. When worn, intensity of body acceleration is measured using an electronic component embedded within the device[11], which usually has the capacity to store and record these data over a period of time.

The different types of objective monitors are further discussed below:

Reference
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Evidence[edit | edit source]

Reliability[edit | edit source]

Validity[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

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  1. ↑ Welk, G. J. (2002). Introduction to physical activity research. In G. J. Welk (Ed.), Physical Activity Assessments in Health Related Research (pp. 3–18). Champaign IL: Human Kinetics.
  2. ↑ Siegel, D. (2005). A Self-Report Measure of Physical Activity. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (JOPERD), 76(7), 11.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Matthews, C. (2002). Use of self-report instruments to assess physical activity. In G. J. Welk (Ed.), Physical activity assessments for health-related research (2002nd ed., pp. 107–23). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  4. ↑ Sylvia, L. G., Bernstein, E. E., Hubbard, J. L., Keating, L., & Anderson, E. J. (2014). Practical guide to measuring physical activity. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114(2), 199–208.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Strath, S. J., Kaminsky, L. A., Ainsworth, B. E., Ekelund, U., Freedson, P. S., Gary, R. A., Swartz, A. M. (2013). Guide to the assessment of physical activity: Clinical and research applications: A scientific statement from the American Heart association. Circulation, 128(20), 2259–2279
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ainsworth, B. E., Haskell, W. I. L., Whitt, M. C., Irwin, M. L., Swartz, A. M., Strath, S. J., Leon, A. S. (2000). Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(9 Suppl), S498–S504
  7. ↑ Wickel, E. E., Welk, G. J., & Eisenmann, J. C. (2006). Concurrent validation of the Bouchard diary with an accelerometry-based monitor. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(2), 373–379
  8. ↑ Biddle, S. J. H., Gorely, T., Pearson, N., & Bull, F. C. (2011). An assessment of self-reported physical activity instruments in young people for population surveillance: Project ALPHA. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8(1), 1
  9. ↑ Steene-Johannessen, J., Anderssen, S. A., Van Der Ploeg, H. P., Hendriksen, I. J. M., Donnelly, A. E., Brage, S., & Ekelund, U. (2016). Are self-report measures able to define individuals as physically active or inactive? Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 48(2)
  10. ↑ Taylor, N. (2014). Available methods for measuring physical activity. In A. Clow & S. Edmunds (Eds.), Physical Activity and Mental Health (pp. 35–40). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  11. ↑ Graham, D. J., & Hipp, J. A. (2014). Emerging technologies to promote and evaluate physical activity: cutting-edge research and future directions. Frontiers in Public Health, 2, 66
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