Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

DOI

10.5507/ag.2017.006

Publication Title

Acta Gymnica

Volume

47

Issue

1

Pages

3-10

Abstract

Background: The Gopher FITStep Pro (GFSP) is a commercially available objective physical activity monitor that records steps taken and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the GFSP for measuring steps taken in a guided walking condition and MVPA during planned fitness activities.

Method: University-aged participants (N = 35, Mage = 20) wore two GFSP (right and left side) pedometers and one ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer during both conditions.

Results: Paired samples t-tests determined that self-step counts in the guided walking condition were not significantly different than the right side GFSP (p =.084) but were significantly different from the left side GFSP (p =.006). Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) was less than 3% between self-step counts with the left (1.9%) and right side GFPS (1.7%). However, MVPA estimates were significantly different between the GT3X+ accelerometer and the left side and right side GFSP (p <.001). High MAPE occurred between the GT3X+ accelerometer with the left (51%) and right side GFSP (41%) in the planned fitness activity condition.

Conclusion: The GFSP may be an appropriate instrument for estimating steps, however users should be cautious when consuming MVPA estimates for educational, research, or health-related purposes.

Comments

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Original Publication Citation

Brian, A., & Haegele, J. A. (2017). Gopher FITstep pro accuracy when measuring steps and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Acta Gymnica, 47(1), 3-10. doi:10.5507/ag.2017.006

ORCID

0000-0002-8580-4782 (Haegele)

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