Estimation of energy expenditure in adults with accelerometry and heart rate

Objectives Accurate determination of energy expenditure (EE) through accelerometry is relevant in the effectiveness of the PA programs. The mean amplitude deviation (MAD) is a good parameter to distinguish the intensity of physical activity. Here, the aims of the present study were twofold: a) to develop a new EE estimation equation using raw accelerometer data and heart rate, and b) to compare the oxygen consumption measured with the new equation developed and the most commonly used prediction equations in the literature in normal weight and overweight adults. Equipment and methods Twenty healthy adults (10 males and 10 females) wore a wearable device on the chest that integrates triaxial accelerometry and ECG signals. The test protocol consisted in 12 individualized intensities, 6 walking and 6 running speeds equally distributed. The correlation between MAD and measured oxygen consumption was investigated. Then, a new energy expenditure estimation equation was developed and compared with five formulas from the literature. Results Our results noted that MAD had a very high correlation (r = 0.937) with indirect calorimetry. The new equation developed had one of the two lowest mean absolute errors for both walking and running. Therefore, our equation appears to be suitable for both walking and running, for normal weight and overweight people. However, future studies should validate our new EE estimation equation with a wide range of population and field-based conditions

SIMPLIT: Ensuring technology usability for the elderly

Purpose The aim of this work is to establish a reliable methodology to test if a product is simple, practical, and user-friendly for the elderly. We pursue a twofold objective: (i) to respond to companies that want to be responsive to this increasingly demanding group; (ii) to guarantee that the certified products are easy to use for the elderly. The methodol-ogy will consist of reliable protocols according to the quality required by the recognised certification bodies-in the Spanish case AENOR. Method The method we followed involves several steps: (i) assure the participation of elderly people with the collaboration one of the most important Spanish elderly associations: UDP 1.500.000 members; (ii) a field study (441 questionnaires) to obtain and classify the problems that elderly people experience with products; (iii) define testing proto-cols based on the fulfilling mandatory standards and usability tests. Usability tests are based on a hierarchical classifica-tion of tasks and a categorical classification of the problems. We obtained data on the effectiveness, efficiency and ease of learning, with which elderly people achieve specified goals in particular environments; (iv) checking the process with 4 practical cases that cover low-tech and hi-tech products: the wardrobe, an activity park, an oven, and a tablet computer; (v) submitting protocols satisfying the requirements of a quality certification body. Results & Discussion As result we have developed a methodology with four steps. (i) Verification of the regulation (standards). We check compliance with the legislation on safety and ergonomics of the product to guarantee that it fulfills the minimum conditions. (ii) Ease-of-use tests. We analyse the learning of tasks, ease-of-use and efficacy of implementation, performing a diagnosis of the product based also on the assessment of elderly users. (iii) Global product diagnosis. (iv) Quality verification. We make sure that the product diagnosis is performed systematically by audit of the certification body (AENOR). The assessment of effectiveness, efficiency and ease of learning, are tasks classified on 4 levels: (a) basic & high frequency, (b) basic & low frequency, (c) no basic & high frequency, (d) no basic & low frequency. The problems that appear during the tasks are classified in 18 categories (e.g. dexterity, reaching, equilibrium, etc.). This problem classification facilitates the search for solutions and helps designers to improve the design. This methodology has resulted in a new certificate: SIMPLIT. SIMPLIT is a quality label that guarantees that products have been developed with a design aimed at elderly people. This certificate is now being used and several products have obtained the quality label. Moreover, we use the methodol-ogy in projects to develop new products for the elderly.Durá-Gil, JV.; Laparra Hernandez, J.; Poveda Puente, R.; Marzo Rosello, R.; López Vicente, MA.; Bollain Pastor, C. (2012). SIMPLIT: Ensuring technology usability for the elderly. Gerontechnology: international journal on the fundamental aspects of technology to serve the ageing society. 11(2):163-163. doi:10.4017/gt.2012.11.02.279.0016316311

Normativa de parques y zonas de recreo para niños

Durante los últimos años se ha estado realizando una actividad muy importante de puesta en común de las normativas vigentes en los diferentes países europeos con el fin de establecer un marco de referencia único que permita el libre intercambio de mercancías asegurando un mínimo de calidad y seguridad en los diferentes productos, todo ello encaminado al futuro mercado único europeo

El análisis en frecuencia: un método alternativo para analizar la absorción de impactos en pavimentos deportivos

The frequency analysis of the properties of viscoelastic materials is a widely used technique at the IBV for the analysis of footwear and footwear components. Applied to sports surfaces, it yields additional information to the tests in the Standards. This allows to study characteristics not included in the International Athletics Federation and DIN Standards: rigidity and energy dissipation.EL ANÁLISIS EN FRECUENCIA DE LAS PROPIEDADES DE MATERIALES VISCOELÁSTICOS ES una técnica muy utilizada por el Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) en el análisis de calzado y sus componentes. Aplicada a los pavimentos deportivos proporciona información complementaria a los ensayos de la norma, permitiendo distinguir entre características que los ensayos de la normativa de la Federación Internacional de Atletismo y la norma DIN no estudian: la rigidez y la disipación de energía

Nace la primera "Norma" técnica española de pavimentos deportivos: UNE 41958 IN

After two working years committee AEN/CTN41/SC1/GT3 Sports Surfaces has finalised an UNE 41958 IN REPORT. This report gathers properties that a surface has to fulfil in order to assure its technical and sports function, as well as procedures of verification of these properties. This report will be a useful reference to professionals involved in the sports surfaces sector, and more particularly to people in charge of selection and purchase of these products. The Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV) has included testing methods and established criteria by UNE REPORT of sports surfaces in its procedures in order to obtain the IBV Trademark.Deportivos ha finalizado la elaboración de un INFORME UNE 41958 IN que recoge las propiedades que debe tener un pavimento para asegurar su función técnica y deportiva, así como los procedimientos de comprobación de dichas propiedades. Este informe servirá de referencia a los profesionales involucrados en el sector de los pavimentos deportivos y, en particular, a los responsables de la selección y compra de estos productos. El Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) ha incluido los métodos de ensayos y criterios establecidos por el INFORME UNE de pavimentos deportivos en sus procedimientos para conseguir la marca IBV/Certificación

El rozamiento de los pavimentos deportivos: ¿rendimiento versus protección?

The elite sportsmen seems more exposed to suffering injuries if he wants to increase hor performance. Is this true? Is reducing protection the only way of increasing performance? The fact is that this is not so. In the case of friction, research conclusions indicate that it is possible to find an optimum point in the relation between performance and protection.EL DEPORTISTA DE ÉLITE PARECE ESTAR PREDESTINADO A SOPORTAR MAYORES RIESGOS de lesión si quiere aumentar su rendimiento. Pero, ¿es esto cierto? ¿la única manera de aumentar el rendimiento deportivo es reducir la protección? Lo cierto es que no. En el caso de la fricción las investigaciones realizadas indican que es posible encontrar un punto óptimo en la relación entre rendimiento y protección