HRV Stress Test best practices

Not sure there is a really a "right" way here. My take is to be consistent in when you take the test. I thought it says to do it standing up but otherwise would just stand still as if you were waiting for a bus or something!

Very much doubt this effects metrics in actual activities although indirectly it will as if you are "stressed" your runs and rides etc may not be so good.

Some good questions there:

1. No. There shouldn't be any special scaling or personalized calibration for the HRV Stress feature on Garmin devices. Since it's your personal device, it's just worth keeping track of your own trends - relative to yourself - over time. This is a little different case than, for example, the Firstbeat Quick Recovery Test, which is part of our professional sports platform, where feedback scaling plays a role in helping the team training staff compare recovery levels between players and across the team.

2. Well, the key is - as you know - consistency. A lot of pro teams tend to do their testing in the locker room before training, so I'd say in practical terms the moment you get out of bed isn't so important. Eventually, the greatest value for this type of feedback is placing the specific scores you get in the context of how you feel - so if it were me, I'd go with the 10-20 minute range after you wake up, assuming you feel like you're getting a reliable reading then.

3. Standing in a relaxed state with your eyes closed and breathing deeply and comfortably is probably the way to go.

4. The HRV Stress test is a completely independent feature. It isn't used to influence any of the other insights you get from your device.

Hope that helped!

Hi Herman,

I appreciate you participating here!

Quick question: is the new Stress Widget basically replacing the 3min Stress test using a strap or are these two different things providing different information?
Thanks.
J.

No problem. It's nice to see how many helpful and informed folks there are here.

The new Stress Widget / All-day Stress feature is similar to the HRV Stress feature, in that both are looking at the same phenomenon. The HRV Stress feature is essentially a precise spot check, whereas the Stress Widget more of a birds-eye view. I really have no clue as to whether one would 'replace' the other at a device feature level - as that's really a question for Garmin. For me, though, both have their place and usage.

There's actually some pretty interesting research coming out recently about successful training optimization guidance based on daily HRV Stress type measurements. Essentially, using the HRV measurements to select the right specific daily training programs for better outcomes.

This is one recent example of a researcher we were working with.
https://www.firstbeat.com/en/blog/block-training-boost-endurance-performance/

My biggest problem/complaint/criticism of the Stress Test on Garmin devices is the lack information about what the numbers an individual gets.

I had been using an iOS HRV app regularly for almost a year before I got a Fenix 3. The app I use gives sympathetic/parasympathetic, color code, and readiness score (based on a baseline of at least 3 consecutive readings) for each morning reading that you do. Based on the readiness score and color code it gives a recommendation of whether you should take an active recovery day, a day off, or if you should be good to go with that day's plan. In other words, it gives actionable information.

While with the Garmin Stress Score all you can do is write down each day's score (since the device doesn't record it) and make guesses about whether it's time to take it easy or go out and throw down. Even something in the manual saying that the number is highly individual and that a baseline should be established with "X" number of consecutive readings with at least "Y" number of days since the last hard training would be helpful.

Sorry. Rant over. :)

Edit: When are they going to get the log in fixed on this forum? In the time it took to read the linked article and write this post the system logged me off.