Validation of heart rate monitor-based predictions of oxygen uptake and energy expenditure

Abstract

Validation of heart rate monitor-based predictions of oxygen uptake and energy expenditure. J Strength Cond Res 23(5): 1489-1495, 2009-To validate V̇o2 and energy expenditure predictions by the Suunto heart rate (HR) system against a first principle gas analysis system, well-trained male (n = 10, age 29.8 ± 4.3 years, V̇o2 65.9 ± 9.7 ml·kg-1·min-1) and female (n = 7, 25.6 ± 3.6 years, 57.0 ± 4.2 ml·kg-1·min-1) runners completed a 2-stage incremental running test to establish submaximal and maximal oxygen uptake values. Metabolic cart values were used as the criterion measure of V̇o2 and energy expenditure (kJ) and compared with the predicted values from the Suunto software. The 3 levels of software analysis for the Suunto system were basic personal information (BI), BI + measured maximal HR (BIhr), and BIhr + measured V̇o2 (BIhr + v). Comparisons were analyzed using linear regression to determine the standard error of the estimate (SEE). Eight subjects repeated the trial within 7 days to determine reliability (typical error [TE]). The SEEs for oxygen consumption via BI, BIhr, and BIhr + v were 2.6, 2.8, and 2.6 ml·kg-1·min-1, respectively, with corresponding percent coefficient of variation (%CV) of 6.0, 6.5, and 6.0. The bias compared with the criterion V̇o2 decreased from -6.3 for BI, -2.5 for BIhr, to -0.9% for BIhr + v. The SEE of energy expenditure improved from BI (6.74 kJ) to BIhr (6.56) and BIhr + v (6.14) with corresponding %CV of 13.6, 12.2, and 12.7. The TE values for V̇o2 were ∼0.60 ml·kg-1·min-1 and ∼2 kJ for energy expenditure. The %CV for V̇o2 and energy expenditure was ∼1 to 4%. Although reliable, basic HR-based estimations of V̇o2 and energy expenditure from the Suunto system underestimated V̇o2 and energy expenditure by ∼6 and 13%, respectively. However, estimation can be improved when maximal HR and V̇o2 values are added to the software analysis.