• Indication
• Pros and cons
• Practical considerations
• Resources required
• References
• Examples and links

• Physical activity assessment
• Methods
• Heart rate monitoring
• Indication

Indication

Heart rate monitoring with individual calibration has been reported in studies of up to 800 individuals (Rennie et al, 2001).  This represents a considerable burden for both researchers and participants from the individual calibration testing through to the analyses of the heart rate data to derive energy expenditure estimates.  Studies using prediction equations (rather than individual calibration), supplemented by information from a short questionnaire or within a short appointment suggest that the method is suitable as an objective measure of group-level activity in relatively small epidemiological studies.  It should be noted that accuracy is considerably improved by using individual calibration.

Heart rate monitoring is suitable for other studies e.g. interventions to study treatment effect which require an objective measure of PAEE and of time spent in different intensities of activity.  The method also provides an indicator of frequency and duration of these activities. 


 

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