Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring

Wrist-worn heart rate monitors have become integral in personal health monitoring, particularly during exercise and daily activities. This review evaluates the precision of various commercially available smartwatches in assessing heart rate, focusing on their accuracy across different physical activ...

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Main Authors: Katarzyna Paluch, Zofia Szypuła, Aleksandra Nowak, Oliwia Bochenek, Mateusz Koper, Jessica Kałuża, Adrian Konaszczuk, Klaudia Ratyna, Oliwia Kozyra, Małgorzata Skarbek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2024-11-01
Series:Quality in Sport
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Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/55350
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author Katarzyna Paluch
Zofia Szypuła
Aleksandra Nowak
Oliwia Bochenek
Mateusz Koper
Jessica Kałuża
Adrian Konaszczuk
Klaudia Ratyna
Oliwia Kozyra
Małgorzata Skarbek
author_facet Katarzyna Paluch
Zofia Szypuła
Aleksandra Nowak
Oliwia Bochenek
Mateusz Koper
Jessica Kałuża
Adrian Konaszczuk
Klaudia Ratyna
Oliwia Kozyra
Małgorzata Skarbek
author_sort Katarzyna Paluch
collection DOAJ
description Wrist-worn heart rate monitors have become integral in personal health monitoring, particularly during exercise and daily activities. This review evaluates the precision of various commercially available smartwatches in assessing heart rate, focusing on their accuracy across different physical activities, such as walking, running, cycling, and elliptical training. A systematic analysis of 29 peer-reviewed studies, encompassing over 900 participants, was conducted to compare devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and others. The results demonstrate significant variation in accuracy depending on the device, type of activity, and individual factors such as body mass index and skin tone. The Apple Watch consistently outperformed other devices, showing the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), particularly during moderate-intensity activities. In contrast, devices such as the Fitbit Blaze exhibited greater error rates, especially during high-intensity exercises or activities involving significant arm movement. Although wrist-worn heart rate monitors provide users with convenient real-time data, limitations such as motion artifacts, device placement, and external factors may affect their reliability.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2450-3118
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
record_format Article
series Quality in Sport
spelling doaj-art-704da2e5ca484d7bbb8f51d920eed8472024-11-17T08:08:44ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182024-11-013210.12775/QS.2024.32.55350Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise MonitoringKatarzyna Paluch0Zofia Szypuła1Aleksandra Nowak2Oliwia Bochenek3Mateusz Koper4Jessica Kałuża5Adrian Konaszczuk6Klaudia Ratyna7Oliwia Kozyra8Małgorzata Skarbek9Warszawski Uniwersytet MedycznyMedical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandInfant Jesus Clinical Hospital UCC MUW, Lindleya 4, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland Grochowski Hospital, Grenadierów 51/59, 04-073 Warsaw, PolandNational Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, PolandUniversity Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, PolandStandalone Public Health Care Facility in Świdnik ul. Leśmiana 4, 21-040 Świdnik PolandInfant Jesus Clinical Hospital UCC MUW, Lindleya 4, 02-005 Warsaw, PolandPrague hospital dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord Sp. z o. o., Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warsaw, PolandProvincial Hospital Center of the Jelenia Gora Valley, Oginskiego 6, 58-506 Jelenia GoraWrist-worn heart rate monitors have become integral in personal health monitoring, particularly during exercise and daily activities. This review evaluates the precision of various commercially available smartwatches in assessing heart rate, focusing on their accuracy across different physical activities, such as walking, running, cycling, and elliptical training. A systematic analysis of 29 peer-reviewed studies, encompassing over 900 participants, was conducted to compare devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and others. The results demonstrate significant variation in accuracy depending on the device, type of activity, and individual factors such as body mass index and skin tone. The Apple Watch consistently outperformed other devices, showing the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), particularly during moderate-intensity activities. In contrast, devices such as the Fitbit Blaze exhibited greater error rates, especially during high-intensity exercises or activities involving significant arm movement. Although wrist-worn heart rate monitors provide users with convenient real-time data, limitations such as motion artifacts, device placement, and external factors may affect their reliability. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/55350wrist-worn heart rate monitorsexercisemonitoringheart ratephotoplethysmographyvalidation
spellingShingle Katarzyna Paluch
Zofia Szypuła
Aleksandra Nowak
Oliwia Bochenek
Mateusz Koper
Jessica Kałuża
Adrian Konaszczuk
Klaudia Ratyna
Oliwia Kozyra
Małgorzata Skarbek
Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring
Quality in Sport
wrist-worn heart rate monitors
exercise
monitoring
heart rate
photoplethysmography
validation
title Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring
title_full Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring
title_fullStr Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring
title_full_unstemmed Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring
title_short Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors: A Comprehensive Review of Smartwatches in Exercise Monitoring
title_sort accuracy of wrist worn heart rate monitors a comprehensive review of smartwatches in exercise monitoring
topic wrist-worn heart rate monitors
exercise
monitoring
heart rate
photoplethysmography
validation
url https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/55350
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