Garmin Instinct Heart rate during burpees

Former Member over 4 years ago

So, I’ve noticed that while I run the Instinct picks up my heart rate really well and it increases with intensity.

However, when I do a burpee workout (6 count burpees, i.e. a normal burpee with a push up at the bottom) it barely registers an increase in heart rate.

Yesterday I did 250 of these burpees and despite shaking, sweating and almost puking the heart rate hung around 70bpm.

Any ideas?

0 trux over 4 years ago

Try adjusting the tightness and position of the wrist band. If it does not help, use a chest belt HRM.

Also read the document The Heart Rate Sensor on My Watch Is Not Accurate for some more details.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to trux

@thrux, thanks it's defiantly at the correct tightness and in the correct position, looks like it just isn't capable of getting a good reading during this workout, which is strange.

At the very least I would expect it to get the correct heart rate during the rest between sets as I'm standing and not doing any strange movements.

During the session, it maxed out at 140bpm which was during the warm-up (some jumping jacks at that point) so was reading OK then, then dropped down to between 70 and 90 for the remainder of the session. Perhaps there just isn't enough blood in the sensor area during the burpees!

0 trux over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

You can also try placing the watch on the ankle, just to see whether it makes any difference. If it does not help, use a chest belt HRM, as I already advised. The Optical HRM technology has its limitations.

Personally, I just tried to make a few burpees to test it, and had no problems with the HR reading, and getting over 100 bpm. So, I'd still suggest playing with the tightness and with the position of the wrist band. Make sure the watch is placed over a well visible vein, try different levels of tightness, change the hand, or as I wrote, try it also on the side above the ankle (works fine for me too, when placed there).