Comparison of Polar M600 Optical Heart Rate and ECG Heart Rate during Exercise
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Polar M600 optical heart rate (OHR) sensor compared with ECG heart rate (HR) measurement during various physical activities. METHODS: Thirty-six subjects participated in a continuous 76-min testing session, which included rest, cycling warm-up, cycling intervals, circuit weight training, treadmill intervals, and recovery. HR was measured using a three-lead ECG configuration and a Polar M600 Sport Watch on the left wrist. Statistical analyses included OHR percent accuracy, mean difference, mean absolute error, Bland-Altman plots, and a repeated-measures generalized estimating equation design. OHR percent accuracy was calculated as the percentage of occurrences where OHR measurement was within and including ±5 bpm from the ECG HR value. RESULTS: Of the four exercise phases performed, the highest OHR percent accuracy was found during cycle intervals (91.8%), and the lowest OHR percent accuracy occurred during circuit weight training (34.5%). OHR percent accuracy improved steadily within exercise transitions during cycle intervals to a maximum of 98.5% and during treadmill intervals to a maximum of 89.0%. Lags in HR calculated by the Polar M600 OHR sensor existed in comparison to ECG HR, when exercise intensity changed until steady state occurred. There was a tendency for OHR underestimation during intensity increases and overestimation during intensity decreases. No statistically significant interaction effect with device was found in this sample on the basis of sex, body mass index, V˙O2max, skin type, or wrist size. CONCLUSIONS: The Polar M600 was accurate during periods of steady-state cycling, walking, jogging, and running, but less accurate during some exercise intensity changes, which may be attributed to factors related to total peripheral resistance changes and pulse pressure.
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Horton et al assessed the validity of heart rate only using the Polar M600 when compared with a 3-lead electrocardiogram during both aerobic and resistance exercises, and the accuracy of the wearable device was reported to be better during aerobic exercise (92%) than during resistance exercises (35%).
“Horton et al [22] assessed the validity of HR only using the Polar M600 when compared with a 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) during both aerobic and resistance exercises. The accuracy of the wearable device was reported to be better during aerobic exercise (92%) as compared with only 35% accurate during the resistance exercises.”
From Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Activity Monitors During Common Daily Physical Activities and Types of Structured Exercise: Evaluation Study (2018) · cites this paper as [22]
Presently, there are at least four studies that have investigated the accuracy of wearable devices during resistance exercises and none during high-intensity interval training.
“Presently, there are at least 4 studies [21-24] that have investigated the accuracy of wearable devices during resistance exercises and none during HIIT training.”
From Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Activity Monitors During Common Daily Physical Activities and Types of Structured Exercise: Evaluation Study (2018) · cites this paper as [22]
The PPG signal recorded in a real environment often contains movement artifacts and is affected by changing pressure of sensor on skin.
“The PPG signal, when recorded in a real environment, often contains movement artifacts and is also affected by the changing pressure of the sensor on the skin [80].”
From The Current State of Optical Sensors in Medical Wearables (2022) · cites this paper as [80]
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- Authors
- HORTON, J. F., STERGIOU, P., FUNG, T. S., & KATZ, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Venue
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Published
- 2017-12
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 2600-2607
- ISSN
- 0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2740969659
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 3.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Calgary
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- heart rate accuracy, cycling, treadmill running, circuit weight training, systemic vascular resistance, pulse pressure, wearable heart rate sensors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Bicycling, Electrocardiography, Exercise Test, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Oxygen Consumption, Running, Exercise, Walking, Resistance Training
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