Table 1.
Information from survey of sensor usage in studies involving physical activity (n = 172 studies); data are study count with percentage in parentheses.
| Reported | Unclear or not reported | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of contact temperature sensor | 144 (84%)a | 28 (16%) |
| Sensor calibration | 10 (6%) | 162 (94%) |
| Sensor attachment method | 73 (42%)b | 99 (58%) |
| Something reported | Not reported | |
| Sensor accuracy, uncertainty, precision, etc. | 19 (11%) | 153 (89%) |
| Covered | Uncovered | |
| Sensor coverage by attachmentc | 65 (38%) | 3 (2%) |
| Yes | No or unclear | |
| Calculations using skin temperature data | ||
| Mean skin temperature | 142 (83%) | 30 (17%) |
| Mean body temperature | 39 (23%) | 133 (77%) |
| Other calculations | 56 (33%) | 116 (67%) |
| Absolute | Change score | |
| Skin temperature data presentation | 166 (97%) | 30 (17%) |
Sensor types reported were: thermistors [n = 89; the most common manufacturer reported was Grant Instruments Ltd., Cambridge, UK (n = 29) followed by YSI Inc., Yellow Springs, OH, USA (n = 18); 10 studies reported no manufacturer or supplier information], thermocouples [n = 30; the most common manufacturer or supplier reported was Concept Engineering, Old Saybrook, CT, USA (n = 5) followed by Omega Engineering Ltd, Stamford, CT, USA (n = 3); 17 studies reported no manufacturer or supplier information], iButtons (an oscillator-based digital thermometer; n = 26; Maxim Integrated Products, CA, USA), and resistance thermometers (n = 2). Three studies each used two types of contact temperature sensors so the total of sensor types here is 147 (cf. 144 in the table above).
Of the 73 reported, 63 studies used tape and 33 of those studies specified the tape type: 3 M Transpore (n = 13), 3 M Tegaderm (n = 9), BSN Medical Fixomull (n = 4), 3 M Blenderm (n = 2), 3 M Medipore (n = 2), BSN Medical Hypafix (n = 2), Hy-Tape international Hy-Tape (n = 2), Leuko Sportstape (n = 1).
The remaining (n = 104, 60%) were unclear or not reported.