Table 1 Accelerometer-specific population, data collection, and analysis details for the 59 included articles from 45 unique data sources

Morse et al. [58] UK

7164

N = 21, 73.7 (3.6) years; men/women = 21/0; moderate PA (3–5.99 METs) = 33.47 (21.07) min/day

At least 7 days, 1 min epoch

Removed unusually low counts (no moderate activity with all counts <1,952), or unusually high counts (all activity vigorous with all counts >5,724), and continuous data with the same value). Manually checked missing and incomplete data and compared with logs.

7 days ≥ 10 h/day

≥1,952

Kolbe-Alexander et al. [43], South Africa

MTI (7162)

N = 122, median (IQR) 66 years (62 to 70); men/women = 52/70; MVPA, not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

≥10 h/day

>1,952

Aznar-Lain et al. [2], Spain

7164

N = 18, 68.1 years (6.8); men/women = 4/14, baseline total MVPA for intervention group = 48 (28) min; control group = 79 (48) min

4 days, 1-min epoch

Four consecutive days (two weekdays and two weekend days) with ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

≤100

Davis and Fox [15], UK (Better Ageing)

7164

N = 163, 76.1 years (3.9); men/women = 70/91, MVPA/day = 19.9 (16.3)

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed unusually low counts (no moderate activity with counts <1,952), or unusually high counts (all activity vigorous with counts >5,724), and continuous data with same value. Manually checked data and compared with logs.

5 days ≥10 h/day

>1,999

<200

Fox et al. [22], UK (Better Ageing)

7164

N = 176; men, 75.8 years (3.8), women, 75.4 years (4.0); men/women = 78/98, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Referenced to Davis and Fox [15]. Removed unusually low counts (no moderate activity with all counts <1,952), or unusually high counts (all activity vigorous with all counts >5,724), and continuous data with the same value. Manually checked data and compared to logs.

Referenced to Davis and Fox [15] five consecutive days ≥10 h/day

Referenced to Davis and Fox [15] >1,999

Referenced to Davis and Fox [15], <200

Hagströmer et al. [30], Sweden (ABC)

7164

N = 122; men and women 65–79 years, median MVPA/day = 21 (8–43)

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed >20 min of consecutive zero counts and periods of monitor malfunction (counts >20,000).

4 days with at least one weekend day ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

<100

Rowe et al. [73], USA

7164

N = 91, 74 years (9.5); men/women = 29/60, MVPA only 17.2 % of 489 days had ≥30 min

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed overnight accelerometer data identified from logs. Visual inspected data and confirmed the pedometer and self-reported physical activity of participants with over 60 min of MVPA.

>1,951

Ashe et al. [1], Canada

GT1M

N = 73, 68.8 years (3); men/women = 0/73, mean MVPA = 156 (90) min/day

1-min epoch

4 days (including 1 weekend day) of ≥10 h/day

≥574

Gerdhem et al. [27], Sweden

71256

N = 57

80.1 years (0.1); men/women = 0/57, median MVPA = 13 (6–23) min/day

7 days, 10-s epoch

Removed ≥10 min of consecutive zero counts (sequences of 60 or more consecutive zero counts).

5 days ≥8 h/day

>1,952

<500

Johannsen et al. [39], USA

ActiGraph (model number not provided)

N = 153

Aged group (N = 58): 69 years (1); men/women = 29/29, nonagenarian (N=95): 92 years (0.3)Men/Women 46/49

Moderate activity -Aged group spent 126 (8) min/day and the nonagenarian spent 50 (6) min/day

14 days

1 minute epoch

7 days ≥ 22.9 hours/day

≥574

Matthews et al. [54], USA (NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

N = 1,437, 60–85 years; men/women = 710/727,

MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removal of ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts with allowance for up to 2 min of counts between 1 and 100 and data from monitors that were not in calibration when returned.

1 day ≥10 h/day

<100

Metzger et al. [56], USA (NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

N = 1,901; men and women ≥60 years, MVPA reported by days of the week

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts and monitor malfunction (10 min of identical consecutive nonzero count values). Missing data were imputed for files with at least 1 day.

1 day

≥2,020

Orsini et al. [61], Sweden (Swedish mammography)

7164

N = 116, 64.4 years (5.6); men/women = 0/116, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

4 days ≥10 h/day

≥760

≤259

Orsini et al. [62], Sweden (Swedish mammography)

7164

N = 133, 64.2 years (5.7); men/women = 0/133, moderate PA 31 % (95 % CI 23,29) of women met 30 min/day, 102 (58) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of continuous zero counts and periods of monitor malfunction (counts >20,000).

4 days ≥10 h/day

≥760

≤259

Parker et al. [63], USA

7164

N = 84, 71.3 years (8.4); men/women = 28/56, MVPA 79.7 (46.7) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts and counts >20,000.

4 days/week (include one weekend day) ≥10 h/day

≥760

<260

Pruitt et al. [68], USA

7164

N = 106, 70–86 years; men/women = 35/71, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removal of data resulted from monitor malfunctions identified with visual inspection. On and off times provided from participant logs.

5 days ≥10 h/day

Individualized (based on 400 m walk)

Strath et al. [81], USA (NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

Men and women ≥60 years, MVPA (non-bouted) 54.5 (37.3) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts.

4 days ≥10 h/day

≥760

Troiano et al. [87], USA (NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

N = 1,260, men = 71.1 (0.4) years, women = 70.4 (0.2) years; men/women = 636/624, MVPA (non-bouted) men = 8.7 (0.7)–16.7 (1.2); and women = 5.4 (0.3)–12.4 (0.9) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts with allowance for 1–2 min between 0 and 100, ≥60 min if monitor did not return to zero; and data from monitors that were not in calibration when returned.

4 days ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

Brandon et al. [5], Canada

GT1M

N = 48, 77.4 years (4.7); men/women = 12/36, MVPA 16.5 (44.5) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed zero counts when the accelerometer was not worn by verifying the data with the log book.

7 days

≥3,250 (based on 4 METs)

Copeland and Esliger [14], Canada

7164

N = 38, 69.7 years (3.5); men/women = 18/20, MVPA 68.2 (32.5) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Referenced to Esliger et al. [19].

5 days ≥10 h/day

≥1,041

≤50

Harris [35], UK

GT1M

N = 238, ≥65 years; men/women = 124/114, moderate PA −2.5 % of study participants met the recommended level of 150 min/week

7 days, 5-s epoch

Removed non-wear time verified with activity logs in individuals with average daily step counts less than 2,500.

5 days

≥2,000

<200

Kang et al. [41], USA

7164

N = 91; men and women ≥60 years, MVPA not reported

7 days

Missing data imputed using a semi-simulation design.

Three weekdays and one weekend

>1,951

Buman et al. [6], USA

7164 or 71256

N = 862, 75.4 years (6.8); men/women = 380/482, MVPA 12.3 min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Visually identified and removed malfunctioning accelerometer units (maximum recordable value or periods of repeated non-zeros). Valid hours had <30 consecutive zeros.

5 days ≥10 h/day or ≥66 valid hours over 7 days

≥1,952

<100

Hagströmer et al. [31], Sweden, USA (ABC and NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

60–75 years; men/women, accumulated time, US N = 486; moderate PA, men 15 [13, 17] and women;

10 [9, 12] min/day; Sweden, N = 218, moderate PA men 29 [25, 34] and women 23 [20, 28] min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts with allowance for 1–2 min of counts between 0 and 100.

4 days ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

<100

Ham and Ainsworth [32], USA (NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

N = 939; men and women 65–74 years = 495, ≥75 years = 444, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts with allowance for 1–2 min of counts between 1 and 100 and invalid recordings due to monitor malfunction. Implausible data were replaced with imputed data.

4 days with at least one weekend day ≥10 h/day

≥760

Hurtig-Wennlöf et al. [38], Sweden

GT1M

Men/women = 23/31, N = 54, median (IQR): men 71 years (68 to 76); moderate PA 91 (67–124) min/day; women 74 years (69 to 74); moderate PA 85 (65–99) min/day

7 days, 15-s epoch

Removal of >20 min of consecutive zero counts.

Four consecutive days ≥10 h/day

Moderate ambulatory activity, ≥2,020 moderate mixed lifestyle activity, 760–2,019

<100

Jürimäe et al. [40], Estonia

7164

N = 49,

73.6 years (4.2); men/women = 0/49, MVPA 34.7 (23.1) min/day

7 days, 5-s epoch

Visual inspection to remove unusually low/high activity counts and the continuous data with the same values. Compared data to log.

5 days

≥1,952

<260

Peters et al. [66], China

7164

Men and women ≥60 years, MVPA 79.5 (57.2–105.7) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min with a modified threshold of ≥50 counts/min.

2 days ≥10 h/day

≥760

<100

Camhi et al. [9], USA (NHANES 2005–2006)

7164

N = 1,196, ≥60 years; men/women = 611/585, MVPA 10.4 (9.1–11.7) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removal of outliers and unreasonable values: data with >10 min of 1) 0 steps and >250 activity counts/min; 2) steps/min >200; and 3) 32,767 activity counts/min (maximum value) or if the ActiGraph were not in calibration when returned.

1 day ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

Cerin et al. [10], Hong Kong

GT1M

N = 96, 65–74 years, 62 % 75–84 years, 36 % 85+ years, 2 %; men/women = 40/56, MVPA 161 (145) min/week

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥100 min of consecutive zero counts

5 days (including one weekend day) ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

<100

Clark et al. [13], USA (NHANES 2003–2004 and 2005–2006)

7164

N = 2,303; men and women 70.9 years (7.6), MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed >60 min of consecutive zero counts with interruptions of up to two counts of ≤50 counts/min

4 days (including one weekend day) ≥10 h/day

<100

Davis et al. [17], UK

(OPAL)

GT1M

N = 230, 78.1 years, men/women = 117/113, MVPA 3.6 (3.4)–27.9 (2.0) min/day

7 days, 10-s epoch

Epoch reduced to 1 min. Removed ≥100 consecutive zero counts.

5 days ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

<100

Davis et al. [16], UK (OPAL)

GT1M

N = 214, 78.1 (5.7) years; men/women = 109/105; MVPA ranged from 14.3 (22.4)–19.8 (22.6) min/day depending on the day of the week

7 days, 10-s epoch

Removed ≥100 min of consecutive zero counts

5 days ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

Fox et al. [21], UK(OPAL)

GT1M

N = 240; men 77.5 years (5.6); women 78.6 years (8.6); men/women = 125/115, MVPA not reported

7 days, 10-s epoch

Removed ≥100 consecutive zero counts

5 days ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

Gardiner et al. [25], Australia (Gardiner)

GT1M

N = 48, 72.8 (8.1) years; men/women = 13/35, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed non-wear time based on accelerometer data and logs.

4 days ≥10 h/day

<100

Gardiner et al. [26], Australia, (Gardiner)

GT1M

N = 59, 74.3 (9.3) years; men/women = 15/44, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed non-wear time based on accelerometer data and logs.

≥10 h/day

≥1,041

<100

Gonzales et al. [28], USA

GT1M

N = 40; range, 60–78 years; men/women = 19/21, MVPA men 109 (49) min/day; women 85 (36) min/day

4 days, 10 s epoch

≥1,041

Hart et al. [36], USA

7164

N = 52, 69.3 years (7.4); men/women = 13/39, 12.0 (5.2–30.0) to 15.7 (6.5–39.0) min/day

21 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts.

moderate lifestyle activity 760–1,951; moderate-to-vigorous ≥1,952

≤50

King et al. [42], USA (SNQLS)

7164 or 71256

N = 719, 74.4 (6.3) years; men/women = 338/381, MVPA [mean (SE)] −48.5 (18.7) to 83.6 (18.9) min/week

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥30 min of consecutive zero counts

5 days ≥10 h/day OR ≥66 valid hours across 7 days

≥1,952

Marquez et al. [50],

USA

GT1M

N = 174; 60–69 years, 29.9 %; 70+ years, 39.1 %; MVPA men/women = 46/128; MVPA 39.7 % of all participants had at least 30 min/day

7 days, 1 min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts

3 days ≥10 h/day

≥1,566

<100

Marques et al. [48], Portugal (Marques)

GT1M

N = 60; 69.9 (5.8) years; men/women = 0/60; MVPA (baseline) exercise group, 83.8 (35.2); control group, 79.6 (37.8) min/day

7 days, 15-s epoch

4 days

≥1,041

Marques et al. [49], Portugal (Marques)

GT1M

N = 71, 69.0 years (5.3); men/women = 0/71; MVPA (baseline) resistance exercise group, 93.2 (26.3); aerobic exercise group, 86.2 (32.1); control group, 78.8 (40.5) min/day

7 days, 15-s epoch

4 days

≥1,041

Pelclova et al. [65], Czech Republic

GT1M

N = 92; men/women = 0/92; MVPA (median) control group, 62.61 (4.9) years; median 200 (242) min/week; women with osteopenia 65.76 (5.21) years, 160 (202) min/week

8 days, 1-min epoch

Referenced to Esliger et al. (2005) [19].

Silva et al. [77], Portugal

GT1M

N = 123, ≥60 years; men/women = 40/83; MVPA [mean (SEM)] men, 33.2 (3.6) min of MVPA, women 27.8 (2.5) min

7 days, 15-s epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts

4 days ≥10 h/day

referenced to Troiano et al. [87] ≥2,020

<500

Tucker et al. [89], USA (NHANES 2005–2006)

7164

Men and women ≥60 years; moderate PA 33–45 min/week for 60 years+

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts

4 day ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

Zhang et al. [96], USA

GT1M

N = 32, ≥60 years; men/women = 10/22, moderate PA men 23 min/day; women 7.7 min/day

4 days, 1-min epoch

Removed >60 min of consecutive zeros counts with allowance for 1–2 min of counts between 0 and 100

2 days ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

Baptista et al. [3], Portugal

GT1M

N = 679, men/women = 268/411; moderate PA men 74.4 (6.8) years, 30.8 (1.3) min/day; women 74.3 (7.0) years; 22.9 (1.0) min/day

4 days, 15-s epoch

Removed >60 min of zero activity intensity counts and non-wear time identified from participant logs

3 days (including one weekend day) ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

<100

Gába et al. [24], Czech Republic

GT1M

N = 97, 63.63 (5.23) years; men/women = 0/97; moderate PA 225 (152) min/week

7 days, 15-s epoch

≥10 h/day

≥1,952

Grimm et al. [29], USA

7164

N = 127, 63.9 (7.7) years; men/women = 31/96; moderate PA 103.1 (45.6) min/day

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 min of consecutive zero counts

5 days ≥10 h/day

≥760

≤50

Hamer et al. [33], UK (Whitehall II Study 2009/2010)

GT3X

N = 443, 66 (6) years; men/women = 223/220, MVPA 59.8 % of men and 49.3 % of women recorded at least 30 min/day

7 days

Removed first and last days of data, removed ≥60 consecutive minutes of zero count

6 days ≥10 h/day

≥1,999

≤199

Hansen et al. [34], Norway

GT1M

N = 591, men 71.8 (5.3) years, women 71.9 (5.7) years; men/women = 296/295, MVPA 27.9 (1.0 SEM) min/day

7 days, , 10-s epoch

Removed ≥60 consecutive minutes of zero counts with allowance for 1 min with counts >0. Excluded 12 am–6 am as overnight non-wear time.

4 days ≥10 h/day

Moderate activity, ≥2,020; moderate lifestyle activity. 760–2,019

<100

Hekler et al. [37], USA (SNQLS)

7164 and 71256

N = 870

75.3 (6.8) years; men/women = 377/493; MVPA not reported

7 days (×2 phases), 1-min epoch

Removed ≥45 consecutive minutes of zero counts

5 valid days (30 consecutive “zero” and ten valid hours per day rule) OR ≥66 valid hours across 7 days

>1952

≤100

Koster et al. [44], USA (NHANES 2003–2004)

7164

N = 1,906, 63.8 (10.5) years; men/women = 46.0 %/54.0 %, MVPA 14.2 (17.4) min/day

7 days

Removed ≥60 consecutive minutes of zero counts (allowance for up to two minutes of counts between 1 and 100)

1 day ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

<100

Santos et al. [75], Portugal

GT1M

N = 296, 74.42 (6.72) years, men/women = 112/184, MVPA 25.5 (25.8) min/day

4 days, 15-s epoch

Removed ≥60 consecutive minutes of zero counts

3 days (including 1 weekend day) ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

<100

Stamatakis et al. [78]

UK

(Health Survey for England)

GT1M

N = 649, ≥60 years, men/women = 292/357, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 consecutive minutes of zero counts (allowance for up to two consecutive minutes of 1–100)

1 day ≥10 h/day

≥2,020

<100

Strath et al. [80], USA

7164

N = 148, 64.3 (8.4) years; men/women = 20.4 %/79.7 %, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Removed ≥60 consecutive minutes of zero counts

4 days ≥10 h/day

≥760

<50

Swartz et al. [82], USA

7164

N = 232, 64.3 (6.9) years; men/women = 56/176, MVPA 22.9 (22.0) min/day

7 days

Removed ≥60 consecutive minutes where count was zero; removed values >20,000

4 days (including 1 weekend day) ≥10 h/day

≥1,952

<100

Theou et al. [84], Greece

GT1M

N = 50, range, 63–90 years; men/women = 0/50, MVPA not reported

1 day, 1-min epoch

≥10 h/day

≤50

Winkler et al. [95], Australia (AusDiab 2004–2005, NHANES 2003–2004)

7164 (not available)

N = 44, men and women ≥60 years, MVPA not reported

7 days, 1-min epoch

Compared various data cleaning protocols

≥1,952

<100