[Patients on the move: validated methods to quantify physical activity]

Abstract

- Physical activity is an important component in the maintenance and improvement of general health; physical inactivity is, however, an increasing problem in the Netherlands.- Requests for advice on physical activity are increasing within the healthcare. - Assessment of an individual's physical activity pattern is required to provide tailored advice. - There are a number of methods for measuring physical activity; these are divided into subjective and objective methods. - Subjective measures include physical activity questionnaires and diaries. Objective measures include indirect calorimetry, measurement with doubly labelled water, heart-rate monitoring and the use of an accelerometer or pedometer.- The choice of method depends predominantly on the aim of the measurement, and the availability of personnel, time and financial resources.- In clinical practice a validated questionnaire is usually the preferred method, but when measuring effects this should be combined with an objective measurement instrument.