Validation of a smartphone application for the measurement of heart rate during exercise

Abstract

Purpose. To verify the validity of Instant Heart Rate® application in smartphones for the measurement of exercise heart rate. Methods. The individuals were initially instructed about all the procedures to be performed and signed the consent form. Anthropometric measures and rest heart rate were evaluated before the experimental session of the study. The subjects participated in a self-selected exercise on a cycle ergometer for 10 minutes. Results. The results for validity demonstrated in an iPhone/iOS® smartphone revealed the intra-class correlation coefficient of r = 0.87 with a tendency to overestimate the heart rate by 5 bpm. For the Lenovo/Android® model, the intra-class correlation coefficient was r = 0.98, underestimating the values by -0.7 bpm. Thus, both systems presented high correlation values, and the error observed did not seem to compromise the several measures that use heart rate as a parameter. Conclusions. It is possible to conclude that heart rate monitoring by the Instant Heart Rate® application on iPhone/iOS® and Lenovo/Android® operating system smartphones can be performed safely during exercise, with the Lenovo/Android® base being even more reliable than the iPhone/iOS® system.