Reliability of RT3 Accelerometer for Measuring Mobility in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Pilot Study
By Hale, Leigh, PhD; Williams, Kimberly; Ashton, Craig; Connole, Tim; McDowell, Hayley; Taylor, Colleen; Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 619-628Publication Date: 2007
Pilot study investigating the test-retest reliability of an RT3 accelerometer (Stayhealthy, Inc.) for measuring motion in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The RT3 is a small (~size of a pager), triaxial monitor with 3 electronic measuring devices integrated into a single computer chip. Capable of collecting and storing data in either 1-second epochs for 9 hours or 1-minute epochs for 21 days, the RT3 is potentially suitable for measuring discrete movement tasks or for long-term tracking of physical activity in the home environment. Ten people with MS (mean age 49) and 10 nondisabled people (mean age 40) wore the RT3 while performing 3 mobility tasks on 2 occasions separated by 1 week: a 5-minute walk test, a timed up-and-go test and a stair-climbing task. The RT3 appeared to reliably measure walking and thus be a potential mobility outcome measure in adults with MS and non-disabled adults. Implications for further studies with an expanded number of participants and adjustments to the attachment of the equipment are discussed.
Assistive Products Discussed: RT3 RESEARCH ACTIVITY MONITOR
Published by:
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (Web Site: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov )
Link to text: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/07/44/4/hale.html
