Validity and Reliability of Wearable Technology Devices during Simulated Pickleball Game Play.

Pickleball is a popular sport. Also popular is wearable technology usage. Because the validity and reliability of wearable technology during pickleball is unknown, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the ability of common devices to return heart rate and estimated energy expenditure during pickleball activity. Twenty adult participants were outfitted with a portable metabolic unit and heart rate monitor (criterion measures). Experimental devices were a Garmin Instinct, Polar Vantage M2, Polar OH1, and Polar Verity Sense. Participants played simulated pickleball for 10 min. Validity measures included mean absolute percent error (MAPE) and Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC), whereas reliability measures included coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The heart rate returned lower than 10% MAPE across all devices (Instinct = 5.73-6.32%, Verity Sense = 2.92-2.97%, OH1 = 3.39-3.45%) and greater than 0.85 CCC (Instinct = 0.85-0.88, Verity Sense = 0.96-0.96, OH1 = 0.93-0.94). The CV was below 10% (Instinct = 9.30%, Verity Sense = 2.68%, OH1 = 5.01%), and ICC was above 0.7 (Instinct = 0.77, Verity Sense = 0.98, OH1 = 0.91). The energy expenditure MAPE was greater than 10% (Instinct = 27.67-28.08%, Vantage M2 = 18.87-23.38%) with CCC lower than 0.7 (Instinct = 0.47-0.49, Vantage M2 = 0.62-0.63). Reliability thresholds were met in the Vantage M2 (CV = 6%, ICC = 0.98) but not in the Instinct (CV = 15%, ICC = 0.86). The Instinct was neither valid nor reliable for estimated energy expenditure, while the Polar Vantage M2 was reliable but not valid. All devices returned valid and reliable heart rates during pickleball.

Heart rate processing algorithms and exercise duration on reliability and validity decisions in biceps-worn Polar Verity Sense and OH1 wearables.

Consumer wearable technology use is widespread and there is a need to validate measures obtained in uncontrolled settings. Because no standard exists for the treatment of heart rate data during exercise, the effect of different approaches on reliability (Coefficient of Variation [CV], Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC]) and validity (Mean Absolute Percent Error [MAPE], Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient [CCC)] were determined in the Polar Verity Sense and OH1 during trail running. The Verity Sense met the reliability (CV < 5%, ICC > 0.7) and validity thresholds (MAPE < 5%, CCC > 0.9) in all cases. The OH1 met reliability thresholds in all cases except entire session average (ICC = 0.57). The OH1 met the validity MAPE threshold in all cases (3.3-4.1%), but not CCC (0.6-0.86). Despite various heart rate data processing methods, the approach may not affect reliability and validity interpretation provided adequate data points are obtained. It is also possible that a large volume of data will artificially inflate metrics.

Assessing the Validity of Several Heart Rate Monitors in Wearable Technology While Mountain Biking.

Purpose: This study sought to assess the validity of several heart rate (HR) monitors in wearable technology during mountain biking (MTB), compared to the Polar H7® HR monitor, used as the criterion device. Methods: A total of 20 participants completed two MTB trials while wearing six HR monitors (5 test devices, 1 criterion). HR was recorded on a second-by-second basis for all devices analyzed. After data processing, validity measures were calculated, including 1. error analysis: mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean error (ME), and 2. Correlation analysis: Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Thresholds for validity were set at MAPE < 10% and CCC > 0.7. Results: The only device that was found to be valid during mountain biking was the Suunto Spartan Sport watch with accompanying HR monitor, with a MAPE of 0.66% and a CCC of 0.99 for the overall, combined data. Conclusion: If a person would like to track their HR during mountain biking, for pacing, training, or other reasons, the devices best able to produce valid results are chest-based, wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors, secured by elastic straps to minimize the movement of the device, such as the Suunto chest-based HR monitor.

Reliability and validity of the Stryd Power Meter during different walking conditions.

BACKGROUND: The Styrd Power Meter is gaining special interest for on-field gait analyses due to its low-cost and general availability. However, the reliability and validity of the Stryd during walking on positive slopes using different backpack loads have never been investigated. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is the Stryd Power Meter reliable and valid for quantifying gait mechanics during walking on positive inclines and during level walking incorporating load carriage? METHODS: Seventeen participants from a police force rescue team performed 8 submaximal walking trials for 5-min at 3.6 km·h-1 during different positive slope (1%, 10% and 20%) and backpack load (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of body mass) conditions. Two Stryd devices were utilized for reliability analyses. Validity of cadence and ground contact time (GCT) were analyzed against a gold standard device (Optojump). RESULTS: The Stryd demonstrated acceptable reliability [mean bias: < 2.5%; effect size (ES): < 0.25; standard error of the mean: < 1.7%; r: > 0.76] for power, cadence, and GCT. Validity measures (mean bias: <0.8%; ES: <0.07; r: >0.96; Lin's Concordance Coefficient: 0.96; Mean Absolute Percent Error: <1%) for cadence were also found to be acceptable. The Stryd overestimated (P < 0.001; ES: >5.1) GCT in all the walking conditions. A significant systematic positive bias (P < 0.022; r = 0.56-0.76) was found in 7 conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: The Stryd Power Meter appears to produce reliable measurements for power output, cadence and GCT. The Stryd produced valid measurements for cadence during walking on positive slopes and during level walking with a loaded backpack. However, the Stryd is not valid for measuring GCT during these walking conditions. This study adds novel data regarding the reliability and validity of this device and might be of particular interest for scientists, practitioners, and first responders seeking reliable devices to quantify gait mechanics during walking.

A protocol and novel tool for systematically reviewing the effects of mindful walking on mental and cardiovascular health.

To our knowledge, no published systematic review has described the effects of mindful walking on mental and cardiovascular health. We have aimed to fill this gap by first establishing our systematic review protocol. Our protocol was adapted from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and is registered in PROSPERO (Registration Number: CRD42021241180). The protocol is described step-by-step in this paper, which we wrote to achieve three objectives: to adhere to the best practices stated in the PRISMA guidelines, to ensure procedural transparency, and to enable readers to co-opt our protocol for future systematic reviews on mindful walking and related topics. To achieve our third objective, we provide and explain a novel tool we created to track the sources we will find and screen for our review. Ultimately, the protocol and novel tool will lead to the first published systematic review about mindful walking and will also facilitate future systematic reviews.

Effects of Acute Beta-Alanine Ingestion and Immersion-Plus-Exercise on Connectedness to Nature and Perceived Pain.

This double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study examined the effect of induced painful sensation (via acute Beta Alanine (B-ALA) ingestion) on Love and Care of Nature (LCN), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) during outdoor exercise. Twenty participants volunteered on consecutive days to complete a 0.8 km (0.5 mi) up-hill hike after consuming either B-ALA (6.4 g) or placebo. Immediately after consumption participants answered LCN, RPE, and MPQ questionnaires, immersed in a natural environment for 45 min, and then completed a hike as quickly as possible without running. No difference in HR (p = 0.846), or RPE (p = 0.606) were observed between treatments. Total MPQ scores increased with consumption of B-ALA (p = 0.001). An increased LCN score was observed following exercise regardless of condition (p = 0.035). The results demonstrate that acute B-ALA supplementation is effective in increasing perceived pain sensations. The results also demonstrate an increase in LCN in the presence of increased perceptions of pain sensations during exercise.