Controlled activities performed while wearing hip- and wrist-worn accelerometers

OrderTaskDescription
1Lying quietlyLaying supine on a plinth
2KeyboardingType the Declaration of Independence (hard copy provided) in a Word document on a desktop computer
3Window washing (simulated)Whiteboard erasing of a 1.2 × 2.4 m (4 × 8 ft) whiteboard using the dominant hand was used to simulate window washing
4Sweeping†Using a standard broom, participants swept confetti into a pile and then using a dustpan, placed the confetti into a garbage bag
5Over-ground walking†At a self-selected velocity, participants walked 350 m (1,145 ft) through hallways. Mean walking speed was calculated (distance/time)
6Ascending stairsWalked up 7 flights of stairs at a comfortable pace, minimal handrail use. The mean climbing speed calculated
7Descending stairsWalked down 7 flights of stairs at a comfortable pace, with minimal handrail use. The mean descending speed calculated
8Modified Bruce protocol (MBP) stages 1–5Subjects progressed from Stages 1 through 5 as tolerated without rests; subjects were discouraged from using handrails unless necessary
Stage conditions:
Stage 1: 2.74 km/h (1.7 mph), 0% incline
Stage 2: 2.74 km/h (1.7 mph), 5% incline
Stage 3: 2.74 km/h (1.7 mph), 10% incline
Stage 4: 4.0 km/h (2.5 mph), 12% incline
Stage 5: 5.5 km/h (3.4 mph), 14% incline
9Sitting in a chairBetween treadmill activities, sat quietly in a chair
10Treadmill walking†4.8 km/h (3 mph), 0% incline
11Treadmill jogging8.0 km/h (5 mph), 0% incline
12Treadmill running 1Subjects ran at their choice of 9.7, 11.3, or 12.9 km/h (6, 7, or 8 mph) (if they felt comfortable doing so), with 0% incline
13Treadmill running 2Subjects ran at their choice of 14.5 or 16.1 km/h (9 or 10 mph) (if they felt comfortable doing so), with 0% incline

†: performed tasks again after 1st 17 tasks in the following order: treadmill walking, followed by overground walking, and lastly sweeping