This prospective study investigated feasibility and sensitivity of sensor-based physical activity (PA) measures to monitor changes in PA during geriatric rehabilitation and its relation to clinical parameters at admission. PA was routinely measured at day 2 and day 15 after admission in 647 patients (70.2% women, mean age = 82.0 (SD = 7.19) years) of a German geriatric hospital using a thigh-worn accelerometer. Clinical records were used to include age, Barthel Index, diagnosis, mobility, orientation and cognition. Mean values and 95% confidence intervals (95%-CI) of walking duration, walking bout duration and number of sit-to-stand transfers were calculated to quantify different domains of PA. All observed PA parameters improved during rehabilitation, regardless of age, diagnosis or physical and cognitive function at admission. Walking duration increased by 12.1 (95%-CI: 10.3; 13.8) min, walking bout duration by 2.39 (95%-CI: 1.77; 3.00) s, and number of sit-to-stand transfers by 7 (95%-CI: 5; 8). Floor and ceiling effects were not observed. Walking duration at day 2 as well as day 15 was continuously associated with Barthel Index and statistically significant improved for all levels of Barthel Index. In summary, this study showed that sensor-based PA monitoring is feasible to assess the individual progress in geriatric rehabilitation patients.
Keywords: accelerometer; geriatric rehabilitation; physical activity; wearable sensors.