Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

HRV comparison - shocking: Garmin/Wrist vs EliteHRV/Strap

GJules
over 2 years ago
Hi all,
Ran an experiment the last weeks to compare Garmin's overnight HRV and Body Battery measurement vs. Elite HRV, measured first thing in the morning using a Garmin HRM Pro Chest Strap.
Key insights:
  1. Absolute values are way different: Elite HRV would give me RMSSD of say 55, whereas Garmin gives me a 38.
  2. Usually Elite HRV with chest strap gives me higher values.
  3. Trends up and down seem to be not correlated at all.
  4. Even when I do a Garmin Health Snapshot exactly in parallel to the Elite HRV recording, I get vastly different values between the two
  5. Multiple such parallel readings in a row don't produce correlating variations (e.g., one may be up vs the previous reading, the other down)
  6. Training recommendations are often opposite: One would tell me to train hard, the other to take it slow. Only sometimes they agree.
I have a hard time trusting Garmin's readings since it is wrist based, and also had a weird drop in readings a few months ago that may have been related to a software update (much discussed here in the forum).
What to make of this? Should I ignore Garmin, ignore Elite HRV, or scrap all that since it may be all irrelevant? Did anyone else compare between Garmin and a chest HRV measurement?
  • 0 over 2 years ago

    You cannot compare a one time measurement against an over night average.

    Try doing an EliteHRV measurement and than repeating that 5 mins later, you will see what I mean.

    If you are interested in this topic, I can recommend reading the following: medium.com/.../wearables-for-heart-rate-variability-hrv-measurement-analysis-of-data-quality-and-issues-with-a50ae8127a8b

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 7dfcd1938c0146f1804397d33ddc9c14

    I know. But look at the other points I made - even parallel recordings give vastly different results, and recommendations are totally different

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I personally think that the problem is in the Garmin Health Snapshot. Because when you take several snapshots one after the other, you will find that the values ​​are too different.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    if you want another check that is scientifically validated, try the HRV4Training app. A few days comparing all three should give you an idea of which one is closest (clearly only valid for health snapshot in parallel with elite & hrv4training)

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    For what is worth, I only use nightly values and trends, and it matches pretty well with sickness or other big stressors, as well as (in the opposite direction) vacation time and peak fitness.

    The training recommendation from Garmin is not only based on HRV, but on a bunch of metrics all put together which can be problematic for interpretability. Essentially, as far as HRV goes, if it's Balanced you train as planned (so if you have a hard day planned, you go hard). Easy as that

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Fabio

    I totally agree with this comment.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    You shouldn't have open the Pandora boxLaughingLaughing. For me, the HRV values from health snapshot is random number generator. And I count with night HRV only as long term indicator of fatigue. Just the trend of values. I'll be afraid of comparing these numbers with other systems...

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 2 years ago

    Try rest 5 minutes before taking the Snapshot, and reject snapshots where snapshot maxHR-minHR >5 (varies from subject to subject) , keep the respiration normal, nor deep neither fast, avoid emotional thoughts, maintain yourself in a relaxed state, think on nothing or in sleeping. Absolutely don't move.

    If artifacts are present (example:extra systoles) reject the snapshot.

    Taking the steps above,  Garmin Health Snapshot  and the Elite HRV in parallel recording values (RMSSD and SDRR/SDNN )  will be quite close.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I don't use these metrics to guide my training, I use it to monitor my recovery generally and it seems to trend with how I feel. The watch does not know if your legs are incredibly sore, or you have some minor strain. I ran a half marathon last Sunday and the watch wanted me to do a VO2 max run today even though I am still hurting! Train by feel, if for some reason your HRV seems to be low for an extended time maybe consider resting a bit, but I have had some of my best runs when Garmin says to rest. If you are having problems with injuries, maybe following the training can prevent them, otherwise get out there.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I'm experiencing the same issue with my FR255.

    When I use Elite HRV (the RMSSD value given) with my HRM-Pro chest strap at the EXACT SAME TIME as my FR255 optical sensor for a Health Snapshot I get completely different values for which the delta between them has no predictability.

    It's not the Health Snapshot activity either because if I wear 2 chest straps (HRM-Pro and HRM-Pro+) and run the Health Snapshot using the HRM-Pro+ and use Elite HRV with the HRM-Pro at the EXACT SAME TIME the RMSSD values are only a few ms different (well within margin of error that you would expect).

    For me it appears as if the FR255 is locked within a certain range and doesn't stray from that rage (mid-upper 20ms) and the HRM-Pro through Elite HRV gives me values that match what I expect based on training load, sickness, etc with values between 50 and 90ms depending on day.

    It leads me to believe there is either something wrong with my specific watch (maybe a factory flaw) or there is something in the algorithm for the watch's optical sensor hrv reading that weights the number so hard that it keeps it from following real values. (or the sensor just sucks which for such a premium product you'd think there would be massive outcry).

    I wonder if anyone has taken the FR255/955 HRV measurements and had them scientificly verified.