Activity Monitors and Dance-Based Exercise: Estimating Caloric Expenditure

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the Caltrac and Tritrac-R3D activity monitors in predicting the caloric cost of dance based exercise modalities with regard to the CDC 150 kcal criterion. Ten women volunteered to participate in a repeated measures study. The subjects had the following (mean ± SD) characteristics: age: 26.6 ± 8.1 years; weight: 54.8 ± 8.1 kg; height: 162.8 ± 6.3 cm; and VO₂max: 45.0 ± 3.9 ml-kg^-1.min^-1. All participants performed three 20-minute dance-exercise routines while being measured for predicted energy expenditure with two caloric monitors: The Caltrac and Tritrac-R3D. The subjects were also concurrently measured for actual caloric expenditure with verified laboratory methodology (e.g., open-circuit spirometry). Specifically, the three exercise routines consisted of the following: 1. a “dance style” (DS) step workout, 2. a choreographed “high/low impact” routine (HL), and 3. a repeating and building “high/low impact interval” style “peak performance” (PP) workout. The predicted values of energy expenditure were significantly lower than the actual values (repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.05). Specifically, the monitors underestimated caloric expenditure by as much as 41% to 52% depending on the particular dance-exercise style. As with many activity monitors, the Caltrac and Tritrac-R3D predict energy cost largely in terms of lower extremity movement/translation. However, in dance-related activities, the upper body and arms provide a great deal of choreographic variety and, as such, are additive to the energy cost delivered by the legs. Therefore, the Caltrac and Tritrac-R3D may not provide appropriate technology for use in accurately determining the energy cost of dance-based exercise modalities or dance performance.