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Actigraphy is a method of tracking your rest and activity patterns over time using a wearable device called an actigraph. It is worn like a wristwatch, typically on the non-dominant hand, and is used to assess the sleep-wake cycles in your natural daily environment.
Unlike a traditional sleep study which is done in a lab for one night, actigraphy provides long-term data, usually over 7 to 14 days, helping doctors understand your sleep behavior at home which is especially important when lab-based sleep tests are not feasible or reflective of your usual routine.
Actigraphy is useful in many situations where the sleep patterns need to be assessed non-invasively:
Actigraphy provides:
While smart watches track basic sleep data, medical-grade actigraphs are validated tools used in clinical diagnosis. They provide more accurate, long-duration, and research-backed measurements, and the data is interpreted by sleep specialists—not just an app.
No. Actigraphy only tracks movement and activity—not breathing or oxygen levels. For sleep apnea, a Level 1 or Level 3 sleep study is required to detect airway obstruction and respiratory events.
Yes. Actigraphy is non-invasive, silent, and comfortable. You can continue your normal activities, though it’s advised to avoid swimming or showering if the device isn’t waterproof.
The sleep diary helps your doctor correlate your reported sleep times with what the actigraph records. This improves accuracy and helps identify discrepancies between perceived and actual sleep.