Technology developed to tackle sedentary lifestyles

Strathclyde spin-out company PAL Technologies developed the device in response to new evidence from Australia and the US that people sitting for long periods, even those who meet international guidelines for physical activity, are at increased risk of disease.

The so-called Activator can record exactly when a patient is moving, standing or sitting down, providing important information about their physical activity levels to doctors and physiotherapists.

The technology was first developed at the Strathclyde’s Bioengineering Unit by Prof Malcolm Granat and colleagues.

Worn on the thigh, the technology uses proprietary algorithms to classify an individual’s free-living activity into periods spent sitting, standing and walking.

According to PAL Technologies, this information can be used to estimate daily energy expenditure and changes in the free-living activity profile can be tracked against medication or treatment regimes.

Prof Granat, who is now based at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: ’There is now strong scientific evidence that sedentary behaviour or ’sitting down’ isn’t in fact a neutral health position, it actually has a significant, negative impact.’