Correlation between aerobic fitness and different intensities of activities of daily living by wearable technologies

• Grant number: 21/02159-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal researcher: Aparecida Maria Catai
• Grantee: Giovana Lissa Alexandre Sanches
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/22215-7 - Impact of inspiratory muscle training and aging on metabolic maping and autonomic modulation at rest and on cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic responses to exercise in healthy men, AP.TEM

Abstract

The assessment of aerobic fitness relates to its improved ability to stimulate the physiological responses of the aerobic system. It is known that, when starting an exercise, a rapid dynamics of the aerobic system (better aerobic fitness), characterized by faster adjustments of VO_2, is associated with better functional capacity. In view of the importance of this assessment and the various difficulties in carrying out laboratory tests in relation to the range of sophisticated equipment, a team of professionals and in relation to the high financial cost for their acquisition and maintenance, wearable technologies (mean, wearables) which has been showing exponential growth due to high accessibility and low cost for the general population. Among the various wearable technologies, there is a smart T-shirt (e.g., Hexoskin) that integrates some wearable sensors. Hexoskin has, among its devices, a tri-axial accelerometer (which captures total hip acceleration) and sensors that capture heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (VE) which are directly related physiological signals aerobic fitness. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between aerobic fitness, different levels of intensity of activities of daily living (ADLs) and the behavior of HR in the face of these intensities, through the use of Hexoskin for 7 days. Thirty male individuals, aged between 18 and 30 years, apparently healthy and with different levels of aerobic fitness will be evaluated. The study design will be divided into four moments: evaluation and anamnesis, cardiopulmonary exercise test [for clinical evaluation, determination of the ventilatory anaerobiosis threshold (VAT) and aerobic power], use of Hexoskin for seven days, for eight hours a day during the waking period, and finally, a moderate exercise test to assess aerobic fitness. Pearson's correlation between aerobic fitness and the different intensities of ADLs and the behavior of HR will be verified and the degree of contribution of these variables in the determination of aerobic fitness will be verified by a multiple linear regression. The intensities of ADLs will be segmented into: low (<93 steps per minute (spm)), moderate (e93 to d124 spm) and vigorous (>124 spm) intensity, according to the step cadence, measured by the accelerometer, these will be analyzed through a routine in the Matlab software (R2018a). It is expected that there is an association between the biological data of the wearable sensors and the aerobic fitness of these individuals during their ADL routine, without more elaborate laboratory tests. In the long run, based on the findings of this study, it is expected, through proposals for outpatient interventions, to be able to adjust daily activities in order to improve aerobic fitness, therefore, an improvement in quality and life expectancy. (AU)