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Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(07): 462-467
DOI: 10.1055/a-0875-4033
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Validation of a Photoplethysmographic Heart Rate Monitor: Polar OH1

Eric Hermand
1   EA3596 ACTES ‘Acclimatation au Climat Tropical, Exercice et Santé’, Universite des Antilles et de la Guyane, Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe
2   EA6310 HAVAE ‘Handicap, Activité, Vieillissement, Autonomie, Exercice’, Universite de Limoges, Limoges, France
,
Johan Cassirame
3   EA 4660 “Culture, sport, santé et société”, Universite de Franche-Comte, Besancon, France
4   EA7507 ‘Performance, santé, métrologie, Société’, Universite de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
,
Gaël Ennequin
5   EA4267 PEPITE ‘Pathologies et épithéliums : prévention, innovation, traitements, évaluations’, Universite de Franche-Comte, Besancon, France
,
Olivier Hue
1   EA3596 ACTES ‘Acclimatation au Climat Tropical, Exercice et Santé’, Universite des Antilles et de la Guyane, Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 05 March 2019

Publication Date:
12 June 2019 (online)

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Abstract

This study assessed the validity of a photoplethysmographic heart rate (HR) monitor, the Polar OH1 in various sports performed in ecological conditions: running, cycling, soccer, kayaking, walking, tennis and fitness. Seventy trained athletes (56 males, 14 females) wore the Polar OH1 armband and the H7 chest belt during training. A total of 390 h and 38 min of recording were compared using a 20-bpm window to assess data quality, and Bland-Altman agreements and ICC analyses were used to test accuracy. Linear regression analyses evaluated the HR accuracy and correlation with skin tone. Training loads (TRIMPs) were compared for each session. Reliability was high for endurance sports (>99%) and lower for sports involving arm movements (92~95%). Biases were slightly negative for all sports, whereas widths of limits of agreement varied from 7–20bpm. Bland-Altman agreements were all under 5% except tennis, kayak and fitness. HR accuracy was positively correlated to skin tone (p<0.05). Finally, TRIMPs from the OH1 device were inferior to criterion’s (except walking and soccer), within a 3% range from reference. Hence, OH1 represents a valid tool to monitor instantaneous HR and training load, especially for endurance sports.

Key words

photoplethysmography - accuracy - exercise - Bland-Altman - training load - skin type
 

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