In recent years, sports technology for the measurement of various parameters, called by the technical term "Internal load" they have made great strides. The reference most analyzed by users is the heart rate.
The initial premise is for the chest strap Both for the wrist detection is that the accuracy of the measurement depends on the accuracy of the software that stores and reprocesses the data, although the accuracy of the latter tends to be more variable for LED sensors on the wrist.
The number of sensors on the watch and their accuracy greatly affect the heart rate reading result.
Cardio training: the various measurement methods
Some methods are more accurate than others. For example, some watches may have more advanced features or additional content.
Behind the cost of each instrument there is a technological development (therefore hardware materials) and marketing that justify the higher prices. But there are still good compromises on the market and the choice will be based on the use we have to make of it.
Otherwise it would be like buying a professional SLR and using it with a consumer approach or buying a latest generation phone and exploiting only 5% of its technological potential. The final choice, however, is up to the user.
The question many athletes ask is whether heart rate detection through a chest strap is more accurate than on the wrist.
Among advanced athletes we hear that the chest strap is more precise.
Cardio training: the chest belt
Let's start by talking about the chest strap. It should be worn under pet muscles
torals for men and under the breasts for women.
The chest detection works thanks to the electrical impulses sent by the heart, as if it were a small electrocardiogram. It measures the heart rate per minute which is then conveniently displayed on a remote device such as the watch worn by the athlete.
The essential factor of the chest strap is that it allows us to detect running dynamics such as ground contact time, cadence, vertical oscillation, stride length or even heart rate variability (HRV) which is useful for understanding whether we are in optimal conditions recovery to be able to train at a good intensity.
The main advantage of the chest strap is that, compared to the wrist, remains firmer to the body and is less prone to measurement errors. There are waterproof bands (at a higher price) or non-waterproof bands, unlike wrist devices that are almost all waterproof.
Another advantage of the chest strap is that responds well on average to variations in rhythm in interspersed jobs, allowing a quick and accurate reading of the heart rate. On the other hand, a possible problem for the chest belt is the poor conductivity during the winter period, in which the drier air and a clearly lower temperature could leave the athlete's skin slightly or not wet at all.
Cardio training: wrist watches
The technology with wrist detection is of recent invention. It was born out of the need to measure your heart rate 24 hours a day, avoiding the problem of size and discomfort with the chest belt.
This is especially sought after by the average amateur and less by the professional, who still prefers to wear the sternum band.
The wrist sensor should be placed two fingers above the styloid process of the ulna. The LEDs detect the change in blood volume, with each beat, which passes through the veins.
For this reason, the strap should be tightened enough to maintain contact with the skin but without exaggerating because it would adversely affect the measurement.
Other possible conditions for a bad or absent wrist heart rate measurement could be a massive presence of hair in this area, poorly exposed veins, tattoos or impaired pigmentation of the skin. For the latter situation, black athletes may have problems with wrist detection.
Cardio training: the accuracy of the two systems
On the accuracy of the measurement of heartbeats it can be said that at rest or at a slow bottom rhythm there is no substantial difference between the chest strap and the pulse.
The more the pace increases, the more there may be discrepancies at the expense of the detection on the wrist. In fact, at the rhythm of the intensive medium or repeated short, the LEDs in this anatomical area may suffer from lack of contact or unwarranted spikes, or more generally that they are unable to detect the sudden change of rhythm.
In addition, the wrist may have problems if the watch collides with external objects in the case of cross training or is filled with mud in one OCR run.
Ultimately, if the training rhythm is medium-low, both the chest strap and the watch can be fine, but with very precise rhythm variations, fartlek or short repetitions, the detection on the wrist could give many problems.
The last piece of advice I would like to give you is to enjoy your training or your race without becoming a slave to technology. It is right to have some indications to understand the physiological state but without exaggerating trespassing into a morbid habit.
Marco Dalessandro
Degree in Motor Sciences and Master's Degree in Sciences of motor education and adapted physical activities
Four-year diploma of Shiatsu operator
Diploma Osteopath DO e MCB massage therapist
Inferno OCR Elite athlete
CrossFit trainer LV2 / Kids
Facebook page: Marco Dalessandro
Instagram: @marco_ocr_elite e @m_dalessandro_osteopata
We have activated a lot of discounts on Amazon: from 30 to 70% on all sports categories! It's all on our dedicated channel ????
SUBSCRIBE HERE TO THE TELEGRAM CHANNEL