Assessing the Appropriate Number of Days Needed to Approximate Physical Activity Level in the Active Elderly

Activity monitoring is an important consideration for a number of conditions associated with health maintenance in an aging population. For example, reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in the aging population puts this group at a higher risk of fall related fractures [1]. Bone density and bone health is in part dependent upon mechanical stimuli caused by everyday physical activity and loading [2]. The number of steps taken per day and walking velocity [3] are important parameters to consider when studying bone density as well as other health related conditions. However, there is a need for effective and efficient methods/protocols to ensure that representative daily activity data can be collected.