Activity metrics from accelerometers
SBI contributors
Project description
Accelerometers (small, body-worn sensors) are transforming how we measure physical activity in everyday life. Unlike self-reports, these devices capture movement continuously, objectively tracking not just how much we move but also our postures, intensity of activity, and patterns throughout the day. Placement of the sensor, such as on the wrist, hip, or thigh, can influence measurements, but advances in data processing, like the ActiPASS system, make it possible to reliably classify activities and postures across studies.
This technology allows researchers to explore how daily activity affects health outcomes, from functional independence in older adults to the risks associated with sedentary behaviour. With harmonised methods and standardised metrics, research at SHARE on accelerometers is helping to build a clearer, more detailed picture of human movement and its role in healthy ageing.
Status
Active
Selected publications
Franzese, F., Schrank, F., & Bergmann, M. (2023). Determinants of Consent in the SHARE Accelerometer Study. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 6(4), 271-288. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2022-0046
Franzese F., Hettiarachchi, P., Holtermann, A., Ahmadi, M., & Johansson, P. J. (2025). Comparing Physical Activity Metrics from Different Placements of Thigh worn Accelerometers. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2024-0043
Qaisar, R., Hussain, M. A., Franzese, F., Karim, A., Ahmad, F., Awad, A., & Alkahtani, S. A. (2025). Accelerometery 24-hour movement behaviours and health markers in the European old population: iso-temporal substitution regression. Archives of Public Health, 83, 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01536-0
Franzese, F., & Benjamin, C. (2025). Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and ADL/IADL Impairment: A Two-Year Follow-up Analysis. SHARE Working Paper Series 97-2025, SHARE-ERIC.
Franzese, F., Khourshed, M., Scherpenzeel, A., Angleys, N., Weiss, L., & Börsch-Supan, A. (2023). Device-measured physical activity of older Europeans. The SHARE accelerometer study. SHARE Working Paper 85-2023. Munich: SHARE-ERIC.
Felez-Nobrega, M., Werneck, A. O., El Fatouhi, D., de Luca, K., Islam, S. M. S., & Franzese, F. (2023). Device-based physical activity and late-life depressive symptoms: an analysis of influential factors using share data. Journal of Affective Disorders, 322, 267-272.