In‐Field Ecological Momentary Assessment From Wearable Motion Sensors and Self‐Report in a Chronic Low Back Pain Cohort

Despite having cLBP with self-reported moderate pain levels, participants generally reported periods of relatively low levels of pain intensity and interference in their EMA. In addition, their EMA-reported activity levels differed from the sensor data. Participants self-reported higher levels of activity compared to the activity levels calculated by the wearable sensors. This suggests that participants overestimated their activity levels on EMA, or that the activity level cut-points may need to be re-evaluated for the cLBP population. Additionally, sensors placed on different body locations showed varying activity and step counts. The activity counts calculated from the waist ActiGraph and the back sensor from this cohort were lower than the average activity counts in the US adult population. Further research is needed to better quantify these differences for people with cLBP to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the pain experience.