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Methods matter- construct validity of steps per day in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

Gustafsson, Malin Eleonora av Kák LU ; Schiøttz-Christensen, Berit ; Wedderkopp, Niels ; O’Neill, Søren Francis Dyhrberg and Brønd, Jan Christian (2025) In European Spine Journal
Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a thigh-worn accelerometer to detect walking during daily life in individuals with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). Two hypotheses were made regarding how walking measurements from the accelerometer, a walking test, and an ankle-worn StepWatch would relate in order for the accelerometer to be valid. The hypotheses were: (a) there is no difference between the longest walk recorded by the accelerometer during daily life and the maximum walking duration in a walking test, and (b) the accelerometer agrees with the StepWatch in measuring total daily steps. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study on construct validity included 83 individuals with LSS who had a thigh-worn... (More)

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a thigh-worn accelerometer to detect walking during daily life in individuals with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). Two hypotheses were made regarding how walking measurements from the accelerometer, a walking test, and an ankle-worn StepWatch would relate in order for the accelerometer to be valid. The hypotheses were: (a) there is no difference between the longest walk recorded by the accelerometer during daily life and the maximum walking duration in a walking test, and (b) the accelerometer agrees with the StepWatch in measuring total daily steps. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study on construct validity included 83 individuals with LSS who had a thigh-worn accelerometer for seven days and completed a walking test. Twenty-one also had an ankle-worn StepWatch simultaneously. Results: The duration of the longest walk recorded by the thigh-worn accelerometer and the walking test significantly agreed within an equivalence margin of 34%. The thigh-worn accelerometer recorded fewer steps per day than the ankle-worn StepWatch, Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement at −162% to 35%, mean difference − 64%. Post hoc analysis showed agreement on step count during continuous walking, Bland-Altman limits of agreement at −7.1% to 1.8%, mean difference − 2.6%. Conclusion: The results suggest that a thigh-worn accelerometer can monitor continuous walking in daily life in individuals with LSS. The thigh-worn accelerometer did not agree with the ankle-worn StepWatch on daily steps. Device type and wear-site should be considered when interpreting step data.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Accelerometer, Lumbar spinal stenosis, Monitoring, Neurogenic claudication, Validity, Walking, Walking test
in
European Spine Journal
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
external identifiers
  • pmid:41006653
  • scopus:105017404329
ISSN
0940-6719
DOI
10.1007/s00586-025-09404-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
abee7540-c99e-4e1c-a4ca-1182fb4bbab0
date added to LUP
2025-12-08 11:30:06
date last changed
2025-12-09 03:00:13
@article{abee7540-c99e-4e1c-a4ca-1182fb4bbab0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a thigh-worn accelerometer to detect walking during daily life in individuals with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). Two hypotheses were made regarding how walking measurements from the accelerometer, a walking test, and an ankle-worn StepWatch would relate in order for the accelerometer to be valid. The hypotheses were: (a) there is no difference between the longest walk recorded by the accelerometer during daily life and the maximum walking duration in a walking test, and (b) the accelerometer agrees with the StepWatch in measuring total daily steps. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study on construct validity included 83 individuals with LSS who had a thigh-worn accelerometer for seven days and completed a walking test. Twenty-one also had an ankle-worn StepWatch simultaneously. Results: The duration of the longest walk recorded by the thigh-worn accelerometer and the walking test significantly agreed within an equivalence margin of 34%. The thigh-worn accelerometer recorded fewer steps per day than the ankle-worn StepWatch, Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement at −162% to 35%, mean difference − 64%. Post hoc analysis showed agreement on step count during continuous walking, Bland-Altman limits of agreement at −7.1% to 1.8%, mean difference − 2.6%. Conclusion: The results suggest that a thigh-worn accelerometer can monitor continuous walking in daily life in individuals with LSS. The thigh-worn accelerometer did not agree with the ankle-worn StepWatch on daily steps. Device type and wear-site should be considered when interpreting step data.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gustafsson, Malin Eleonora av Kák and Schiøttz-Christensen, Berit and Wedderkopp, Niels and O’Neill, Søren Francis Dyhrberg and Brønd, Jan Christian}},
  issn         = {{0940-6719}},
  keywords     = {{Accelerometer; Lumbar spinal stenosis; Monitoring; Neurogenic claudication; Validity; Walking; Walking test}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{European Spine Journal}},
  title        = {{Methods matter- construct validity of steps per day in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09404-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00586-025-09404-9}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}