Comparison of tri-axial accelerometers step-count accuracy in slow walking conditions.

•Three accelerometers were evaluated in four minutes of treadmill walking at three slow speeds.•Step count was estimated using PAA and SAX.•The estimated step counts were compared directly to observer counted steps.•Findings showed that device has a significant effect on the accuracy of the estimated count.•Our results highlight the inaccuracy of the hardware itself as opposed to simply the algorithm.