Validity of Seven Commercially Available Heart Rate Monitors

Heart rate monitors have been marketed as an accurate way to measure heart rate. This investigation was designed to determine the validity of seven different types of heart rate monitors. Fourteen men (19.6 ± 2.3 years, 77.7 ±7.1 kg) participated in the study. Heart rate was measured simultaneously for 10 sec during minute 9 -10 of rest or during exercise on a treadmill at 85.7 m · min-1, 107.3 m · min-1, and 160.8 m · min-1. Pearson product-moment correlation (r) and standard error of estimate (SEE) were calculated between an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement and the measurement of heart rate from each of the 7 heart rate monitors. The POLAR Vantage XL, POLAR Accurex II, Cardiochamp, and the Cateye-PL 6000 heart rate monitors accurately assessed heart rates (r ⪈ 0.90, SEE £ 5 beats · min-1) during rest and at moderate activity. At the highest speed, the accuracy decreased, leading us to caution the heart rate monitor user regarding the validity of any of these monitors at high heart rates and motion levels.