Evaluation of Average and Maximum Heart Rate of Wrist-worn Wearable Technology Devices During Trail Running

Authors

Myranda J. Peck, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Dustin W. Davis, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Elias M. Malek, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Nicole R. Vargas, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Michael Dial, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Bianca Weyers, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Wyatt Fullmer, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Wesley Ziegler, Southern Utah University
Damian Gil, California Baptist University
Mike Torres, California State University - San Bernardino
Camden Cox, Southern Utah University
Nathaniel Bodell, California State University - San BernardinoFollow
Jacob W. Manning, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Jeffrey Cowley, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Merrill Funk, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Marcus M. Lawrence, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Mark DeBeliso PhD, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
James W. Navalta, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Abstract

It has been estimated that there are 20 million people who participate in trail running, and these numbers are expected to increase by 15% each year. Our laboratory group has conducted studies on the validity of wearable technology watches and heart rate (HR) during trail running. The previous generation devices were mostly inaccurate, and a limitation was that reliability was not measured. PURPOSE: To determine both validity and reliability in newer models of wearable devices during trail running. METHODS: Seventeen participants (F = 7) ran on the Thunderbird Gardens Lightning Switch trail in Cedar City, UT. Demographic characteristics: Age = 25 (9) years (mean [standard deviation]), ht = 168 (9) cm, mass = 72 (14) kg. Two Garmin Instincts and two Polar Vantage M2s were evaluated, along with the Polar H10 chest strap as the criterion measure. Participants ran out on the trail for 10-minutes, and then returned to the trailhead. Maximum HR and average HR were measured during the run. Data were analyzed for validity (Mean Absolute Percent Error [MAPE] and Lin’s Concordance [CCC]) and reliability (Coefficient of Variation [CV] and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC]). Predetermined thresholds were: MAPE0.70, CV0.70. RESULTS: The Garmin Instinct met the threshold for both reliability tests for average and maximum HR (see table). The Garmin Instinct and Polar Vantage met the threshold for both validity tests for maximum HR. CONCLUSION: In order for a device to be considered valid, it must meet the predetermined thresholds for both validity and reliability. These results indicate that only the Garmin Instinct is valid and reliable, but only for measuring maximum HR. This is challenging for those who wish to track their HR while trail running, because neither of the studied devices were valid and reliable for maximum and average HR.

Recommended Citation

Peck, Myranda J.; Davis, Dustin W.; Malek, Elias M.; Vargas, Nicole R.; Dial, Michael; Weyers, Bianca; Fullmer, Wyatt; Ziegler, Wesley; Gil, Damian; Torres, Mike; Cox, Camden; Bodell, Nathaniel; Manning, Jacob W.; Cowley, Jeffrey; Funk, Merrill; Lawrence, Marcus M.; DeBeliso, Mark PhD; and Navalta, James W. (2022) "Evaluation of Average and Maximum Heart Rate of Wrist-worn Wearable Technology Devices During Trail Running," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 2, Article 68.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss2/68