Impact of Placement of Fitbit HR under Laboratory and Free-Living Conditions

Hyun Chul Jung, Minsoo Kang, Nan Hee Lee, Soeun Jeon and Sukho Lee
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Hyun Chul Jung: Department of Coaching, College of Physical Education, Kyung Hee University-Global Campus, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17014, Korea
Minsoo Kang: Health and Sport Analytics Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, 219 Turner Center, University, MS 38677, USA
Nan Hee Lee: Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development Texas A&M University-San Antonio, One University Way, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA
Soeun Jeon: Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development Texas A&M University-San Antonio, One University Way, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA
Sukho Lee: Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development Texas A&M University-San Antonio, One University Way, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: Wrist-worn activity monitors have become accessible for measuring physical activities, but an activity monitor’s accuracy worn at different placements is not well understood. This study aimed to examine the differences in measurements of heart rates, step counts, and calories estimated from the fitness tracker worn at different locations and the accuracy of Fitbit HR against criterion measures. Thirty-two healthy adults participated in this study. Participants wore Fitbit HR at four different locations (right proximal, distal, and left proximal, distal). Treadmill exercise consisted of five 5-min phases including slow walking and jogging. Free-living activities involved ten 5-min activities with four different intensities. We found that the placement of Fitbit HR has no significant influence on the measurement outcomes overall. However, significant differences were observed in the step counts between left and right while climbing stairs ( p = 0.003) and sports activities ( p < 0.001). The accuracy of Fitbit HR measurements against the criterion measure was moderate. However, we found out that Fitbit HR overestimated the calories regardless of their positions and activity types. In conclusion, the different placements of Fitbit HR do not have a significant influence on the measurements and Fitbit HR was moderately associated with criterion reference devices for measures of heart rate and steps.

Keywords: activity monitor; calories; heart rate; step; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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