COMPARISON OF ACTIVITY LEVELS USING THE CALTRAC(R) ACCELEROMETER AND 5 QUESTIONNAIRES

The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity levels of physical therapists using five activity questionnaires and one elec tronic motion sensor (Caltrac(R)). Thirty-three physical therapists (2 6 female, seven male) were monitored for seven consecutive days. The C altrac(R) data were compared with five questionnaires, including the B aecke (Baecke); Godin and Shephard (Godin); Ross and Jackson (NASA); 3 -d record (3-d); and 7-d recall (7-d). A significant (P < 0.01) Spearm an rank order correlation coefficient was observed between the Caltrac (R) reading and the 7-d recall (r = 0.79). A significant correlation w as also observed between the Caltrac(R) and the Godin (r = 0.45, P < 0 .01). Three of the questionnaires were also significantly (P < 0.01) c orrelated with each other, including the NASA with the Baecke (r = 0.6 1). The 3-d record was not significantly correlated with any of the ot her measures. The strong, significant correlation observed between the Caltrac(R) data and the 7-d recall. The 7-d recall questionnaire woul d be quicker, easier, and less expensive to use in a large population study than the Caltrac(R)