Smartphone apps for tracking physical activity and sedentary behavior: A criterion validity review

Autores/as

  • Raul Cosme Ramos Prado University of Sao Paulo, Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. University of São Paulo, School of Physical Education and Sport, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7895-6019
  • Margarethe Thaisi Garro Knebel University of Sao Paulo, Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo, Graduate Program in Nutrition in Public Health, School of Public Health, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9905-9250
  • Evelyn Helena Corgosinho Ribeiro University of Sao Paulo, Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3565-6830
  • Inaian Pignatti Teixeira University of Sao Paulo, Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Jeffer Eidi Sasaki Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Graduate Program in Physical Education, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2083-4104
  • Luciano Vieira de Araújo University of Sao Paulo, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Paulo Henrique Guerra University of Sao Paulo, Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4239-0716
  • Alex Antonio Florindo University of Sao Paulo, Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo, Graduate Program in Nutrition in Public Health, School of Public Health, Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4429-0826

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.27e0270

Palabras clave:

Accelerometry, Measurement equipment, Sitting position, Epidemiology

Resumen

Smartphone apps have been developed and investigated in validation studies for tracking human behavior such as physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). However, as it is unclear whether these apps are valid for tracking PA and SB when compared to research-grade accelerometers, thus, this systematic review aimed to investigate the validity of smartphone apps for tracking PA and SB using the accelerometer as a criterion measure. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, and Scopus databases. The mean percentage difference (MPD) was used to evaluate criterion validity. Ten studies (n = 662) validating different apps using ActiGraph accelerometers as criteria measure (six were conducted in free-living conditions, two in laboratory conditions, and two in both conditions) were included for analyses. While four apps were considered valid for tracking PA, six were not valid or fully valid. The MPD analysis revealed that apps provide no valid scores for tracking PA measures (MPD = -12.6 – 37.7). The scarcity of studies investigating SB limits the tracking of the results on this behavior. Study designs, smartphone location, and exercise intensity tend to affect the accuracy of apps tracking PA; thus, the current review showed conflicting results among studies. This review shows that it is not possible to generalize the valid scores for all apps.

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Publicado

2022-08-15

Cómo citar

1.
Prado RCR, Knebel MTG, Ribeiro EHC, Teixeira IP, Sasaki JE, Araújo LV de, et al. Smartphone apps for tracking physical activity and sedentary behavior: A criterion validity review. Rev. Bras. Ativ. Fís. Saúde [Internet]. 15 de agosto de 2022 [citado 3 de julio de 2024];27:1-14. Disponible en: https://rbafs.org.br/RBAFS/article/view/14844

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Vol. 27 (2022)

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Artículo de revisión

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Derechos de autor 2023 Brazilian Journal of Physical Activity & Health

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