A combined heart rate and movement sensor: proof of concept and preliminary testing study

Objective: Heart rate monitoring has previously been used as a technique fo r measuring energy expenditure (EE) in field studies. However, the combinat ion of heart rate monitoring with movement sensoring could have theoretical advantages compared to either method used alone. Therefore, this study was undertaken to develop and validate a new combined heart rate monitor and m ovement sensor instrument (HR + M) for measuring EE. Methods: The HR + M instrument is a single-piece instrument worn around the chest which records minute-by-minute heart rate and movement. Eight subjec ts underwent an individual calibration in which EE and heart rate were meas ured at rest and during a sub-maximal bicycle ergometer test. They then wor e the HR + M for 24 hours in a whole-body calorimeter and underwent a stand ard protocol including periods of physical activity and inactivity. Minute- by-minute heart rate was converted to EE using individual calibration curve s with the motion data discriminating between periods of inactivity and act ivity at low heart rate levels. EE was also calculated using the HRFlex met hod which relies on heart rate alone. Both estimates of EE were compared to EE measured in the whole-body calorimeter. Results: The mean percentage error of the HR + M method calculating TEE com pared with the gold standard of the calorimeter measurement was 0.00% (95% CI of the mean error -0.25, 1.25). The HRFlex method using the heart rate i nformation alone resulted in a mean percentage error of 16.5% (95% CI of th e mean error -0.57, 1.76). Conclusions: This preliminary test of HR + M demonstrates its ability to es timate EE and the pattern of EE and activity throughout the day. Further va lidation studies in free-living individuals are necessary.