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. 2013:2013:420916.
doi: 10.1155/2013/420916. Epub 2013 Sep 25.

A Structured and Flexible Language for Physical Activity Assessment and Characterization

Pedro Silva  1 , Maria Teresa Andrade  2 , Pedro Carvalho  2 , Jorge Mota  1
Affiliations

A Structured and Flexible Language for Physical Activity Assessment and Characterization

Pedro Silva et al. J Sports Med (Hindawi Publ Corp). 2013.

Abstract

Developing more accurate assessments of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) is an important public health research priority. Assessing PA and SB is challenging in all segments of the population, but it is especially difficult in children due to cognitive limitations and more sporadic and intermittent activity patterns. Moreover, they are influenced by several factors including temporal-spatial constraints and social conditions. To accurately assess PA and SB, it is essential to clearly define methods for describing all these factors. The goal of this paper is to potentiate advances in the field by proposing a base ontology for characterizing physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the context in which it occurs. The ontology would establish a flexible base language to facilitate standardized descriptions of these behaviors for researchers and public health professionals.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual profile of the factors influencing physical activity assessment and characterization.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Conceptual diagram of the base classes intended for physical activity and inactivity classification.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Conceptual diagram to characterize an individual performing physical activity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Conceptual diagram of the temporal information associated with the physical activity.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Conceptual diagram of information to characterize the space where the physical activity takes place.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Conceptual diagram of information to characterize the social context associated with the physical activity.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Conceptual diagram of information to characterize the weather context associated with the physical activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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