Bluetooth^TM Enabled Acceleration Tracking (BEAT) mHealth System: Validation and Proof of Concept for Real-Time Monitoring of Physical Activity

Aleksey Shaporev, Mathew Gregoski, Vladimir Reukov, Teresa Kelechi, David Morgan Kwartowitz, Frank Treiber, Alexey Vertegel

Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, USA.
College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/etsn.2013.23007                

Abstract

Physical activity is critical to improve the condition of patients with chronic leg and foot ulcers, especially those who are obese and experienced multiple co-morbid conditions. Unfortunately, these individuals are unable to engage in guideline based physical activity (PA) programs. A prototype of BluetoothTM enabled acceleration tracking (BEAT) mHealth system was developed and manufactured for remote monitoring and stimulation of adherence to PA in deconditioned patients. The system consists of a miniature accelerometer-based sensor, smartphone application, and a network service. Validation testing showed high reliability and reproducibility of the BEAT sensors. Pilot study with human subjects demonstrated high accuracy of the BEAT system in recognition of different exercises and calculating overall outcomes of PA. Taken together, these results indicate that BEAT system could become a valuable tool for realtime monitoring of PA in deconditioned patients.

 

Keywords

mHealth; Accelerometer; Sensor; Physical Activity; Monitoring

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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