All ActiGraph activity monitors are designed to monitor human activity and record energy expenditure (calories spent during normal activity, METs, everyday activity, and exercise). Additionally, these devices can also function as a very accurate sleep assessment tool. While collecting day-to-day energy expenditure data, the device should be affixed securely to the body’s center-of-mass to ensure the most accurate caloric measurements. Wrist worn (nonvalidated) EE for kids is now available for 3-axis actigraphs. When being used for sleep assessment, the ActiGraph device may be worn anywhere on the body: wrist, waist (hip), arm, or ankle.
Note: It is not safe to wear the ActiGraph while it is charging!
To use the elastic waist belt, lace the belt through the side loops of the actigraph device and secure the belt around the waist. The unit can be worn either above or beneath clothing, and it is not necessary for the device to make contact with the skin. However, the device must be held snugly against the body to prevent erroneous readings. To use the belt clip, attach the clip to the back of the actigraph using the double-sided adhesive strip and attach the unit securely to a belt on the subject’s hip.
Note: The belt clip adheres permanently to the ActiGraph. Once the belt clip is attached to the back of the ActiGraph, you will not be able to wear it on the elast belt comfortably. It is important to determine which method is best for you before the belt clip is attached to the back of the ActiGraph.
It is recommended that children under 12 years of age wear the Actigraphs on the elastic belt (versus the adhesive belt clip) as it is the most secure way to wear the device. Belt loop pouches, wrist and ankle straps are also available.
The same recommendations apply to the ActiTrainer: the device should be worn on the waist using the supplied neoprene pouch and belt for normal, daily activity but can be worn on the wrist, ankle, or upper arm for sleep assessment. The ActiTrainer may be worn on the arm using a neoprene armband; however, energy expenditure calculations will not be as accurate at this location.
The ActiTrainers manufactured after July 1, 2009 have a 3 axis accelerometer as do the GT3X series and ASM Actigraphs. The ActiTrainer memory has also been expanded to 4 MB, four times storage capacity of the earlier model.
The GT3Xs, ActiTrainers with 3 axis accelerometers and the ASM have an Inclinometer feature. The Inclinometer will only function properly when the device is worn at the hip area of the waist.