Validity of 3-axis accelerometry (ActiGraph Link GT9X) for quantifying and visualizing real-world arm activity in post-stroke hemiplegic patients

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of accelerometry for monitoring real-world arm activity (ActiGraph Link GT9X) in stroke patients, and whether the monitoring by 2-accelerometers or 3-accelerometers is more appropriate. The study design was a cross-sectional single-center study. Thirty-seven subjects wore 3-accelerometers (left hand, right hand and chest) and were monitored for 24 consecutive hours, and the activity ratio of the paretic hand was calculated using the value of each hand minus the value of the chest. Regardless of monitoring method, a moderate to strong correlation was shown between the activity ratio of the paretic hand and functional assessment. The 3-accelerometer monitoring was not shown to be superior to the 2-accelerometer monitoring. Which method best reflects real-world arm activity of stroke patients should be investigated.