Is a fitness tracker that measures momentum like the Apple Watch or Fitbit accurate?
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Fitbit , Apple Watch , etc. can measure daily exercise amount, number of steps, heart rate etc. just by wearing. These so-called 'fitness trackers' are used by millions of people around the world, but Digital Trends is looking to see if the numbers that pop up are actually accurate.
How Accurate Are Fitness Trackers? We Asked an Expert | Digital Trends
https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/how-accurate-are-fitness-trackers/
Lisa Cadmus Bertram, an assistant professor who teaches kinesiology and epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says, “The fitness tracker has enough accuracy to be useful to most people, but it depends on what you are trying to measure. There is also, 'he says.
◆ Step measurement
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Associate Professor Bertram says that 'step measurement tends to be quite accurate.' However, there are two caveats, and it is said that the measurement of the number of steps may be underestimated if the movement is very slow or if you walk abnormally.
It seems that old-fashioned pedometers worn near the waist can measure the values more accurately in step measurement than in the wrist, 'The waist is the best place to measure the number of steps and most types of physical activity. A smartphone in a pants pocket should be able to measure steps very accurately, 'says Bertram.
In the case of a wrist-mounted device, Bertram recommends that you attach the fitness tracker to the opposite hand, as it will record movements almost unrelated to physical activity. In addition, although it pointed out that the smartphone is suitable for measuring the number of steps, in fact the smartphone is not always always in the pocket of the pants, and there are many women's clothes without the pocket. . Therefore, fitness tracker to wear like a watch seems to be a good step measurement method among existing terminals.
◆ Measurement of heart rate
With the advent of the Apple Watch, smart watches and fitness trackers have increased the ability to measure heart rate. For these terminals, “The device that measures heart rate is quite good at measuring heart rate at rest, but when measuring heart rate during exercise it has more variation than at rest Associate Professor Bertram points out.
'Sweat' seems to be the reason why heart rate measurements tend to be inaccurate during exercise. When you sweat, it is often the case that the water gets in the way and you can not record your heart rate completely. As a result, heart rate measurement at rest is accurate, and accuracy decreases with increasing exercise intensity, said Bertram. In fact, that the heart rate of measurement accuracy when the exercise intensity increases is reduced research result is multiple publication it has been.
Associate Professor Bertram says, 'It is not always accurate (at heart rate measurement) at a particular moment, but it does not always mean that numbers are being overshot or undershot. In terms of long-term averages, You can see that quite accurate numbers are being measured. '
In addition, the accuracy of your heart rate measurement may vary depending on which fitness tracker you are using. For example, the ECG (electrocardiogram) function that appeared in the latest Apple Watch Series 4 is incorrect compared to the level used in clinics and hospitals, but to detect potential problems with the wearer etc. It is clear from many cases that it is useful.
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It is not suitable for fitness trackers to accurately measure the heart rate during marathon and training, and in such cases, Bertram pointed out that a heart rate measurement device worn on the chest should be used.
◆ exercise capacity measurement function
by Steven Erixon
Although the Apple Watch simply puts on it, it delivers the amount of exercise per day, but with such an exercise measurement function, 'it's really difficult,' says Bertram.
The exercise measurement function records the movement of the wearer's body and measures exercise together with information such as height, weight, sex and age. Some exercise measurement functions may have questions about lifestyle, etc. 'The problem is that (fitness tracker) can not really know anything about the user's body in a true sense. For example, muscle And while I'm only guessing about the relative proportions of fat, these numbers have a lot to do with energy consumption at rest, 'said Bertram.
According to a meta-analysis of over 60 previous studies, the fitness tracker's ability to measure fitness is not accurate, especially for less active exercises such as walking and housework. However, this does not mean that it is useless, and it is useful enough to lose weight and measure calories consumed during exercise.
Studies have also been published showing that fitness trackers can help improve users' health if they set the correct goals and work on things, even if the amount of exercise being measured is inaccurate.
Digital Trends pointed out that 'it is necessary to consider compatibility with the mobile phone first' as how to choose the fitness tracker, that Apple Watch is still the best option for iPhone users. The important point in choosing a fitness tracker seems to be the presence or absence of the heart rate measurement function, not only because it can measure the heart rate, but it can measure calories consumed much more accurately than the fitness tracker which does not have the same function. It is said that there is also a point.
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