Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Stress Score almost always equal to 1

Dear all,

Every morning when I wake up and I'm still in bed, I do a HRV Stress test. Sometimes I do several times this test.
Almost always my HRV Stress Score is equal to 1.

According to the manual, I deduce this is a very bad score. Still, I'm pretty healthy (I run 50km/week, My Resting Heart Rate is near 50bpm)
I guess that there is a problem with this function or that I use it badly.

On the other hand, I am surprised that the ring of color on the watch screeis Green for small values ​​since the manual says that small values ​​are bad.

Is there something I did not understand or am I doing incorrectly?

Many thanks for your help

Alain
  • Aren't you meant to be standing for the test?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    I did several HRV Stress Test and the result was always 1 that mean "No Stress". The higher the value, the higher the stress.
    I believe that the app is seriously buggy because it's really not possible that the result is always "No Stress" even the next day after heavy training or race.
  • What HRM are you using to do the test?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago


    I'm using the Garmin HRM-Run chest strap.
  • Interesting, I am also using the HRM-run (red version) and seem to have no problem with HRV Stress working properly. You can see I didn't log this weekend, as i was on a backpacking trip without my HRM-Run, but I get varied readings.

    I do have "log HRV" turned on in the Physiological Metrics settings on the watch. I do not know if this must be turned on to get the HRV Stress app to work properly. I did have some funky readings with a Tickr X HRM connected via ANT+. For some reason my stress with that chest strap was always 100%. I think something was odd with the way it was sending HRV info back to the watch. When I upgraded to the new HRM-Run. I started getting variable readings.
    ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1255428.jpg
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    "log HRV" are also enabled on my 5x but no change, my HRV Stress is always 1.
    Anyway not a great problem because I use the Android app Elite HRV that work very well.
  • Hi
    When I did the test, I was in a horizontal position on the bed.
    But I think I understood : I read the FRENCH manual which says to be "IMMOBILE" (= still). I deduced that I must stay in my bed to do the test.
    Moreover, french manuel translates the word "stress" into "Effort" and this is why I reversed the value of the score.

    Now, results seems to be correct when I am standing.
    Many thanks for your help !

    Alain

  • "log HRV" are also enabled on my 5x but no change, my HRV Stress is always 1.
    Anyway not a great problem because I use the Android app Elite HRV that work very well.


    I log with the watch and Elite HRV at the same time. The two readings don't always correlate to each other. I'm hopeful that the Elite HRV baseline will get a little more accurate since I've only been using that for a few weeks, but so far it seems to think I am less stressed than the HRV Stress app on the Fenix.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    I used the Elite HRV application for a reasonable period of time and I was initially enthusiastic about the results and predictions provided.

    After a reasonable period of constant use, I noticed that the stress condition indicated by the program did not always correlate on the true performance, so I no longer used it to plan or adapt training load.

    Currently I use it occasionally for pure curiosity.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    All of these tools, like HRV, Garmin's suggested recovery time, even your own training log can only be used as individual data points that inform a consciously-executed training program. There is no single "silver bullet" test or tool that can remove the subjective element of physical training. The trainee must pay attention to their body and be an active decision-maker in any training program to have optimal results.

    Heart Rate Variability can be an accurate marker for the physiological stress of a training load, but it has limitations.

    It doesn't always reflect injury or many types of illness. It can be affected by medication. Even if you use the test at the same time every day in the same way, it's naturally going to vary from day to day, even based on your emotional stress levels.

    It can still be helpful as a planning and decision tool. If you have a hard workout coming but you aren't sure if you're quite recovered for it, this could push you one way or another. If you're coming off an illness and think you're ready to run, but your stress level is still reading Very High, you might wait a day before resuming your training.

    If you understand what the test is actually measuring and how it relates to your body's recovery process, it can certainly be used for more than just curiosity. But you're certainly right, on its own it does not predict performance with perfect accuracy.