International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences Vol. 3(2), pp. 19 - 26
DOI: 10.13189/saj.2015.030203
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Validating the Use of Heart Rate Variability for Estimating Energy Expenditure

AH Robertson ^1,2,*, K King ¹, SD Ritchie ^1,2, AP Gauthier ¹, M Laurence ¹, SC Dorman ^1,2
1 School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, Canada
² Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH), Canada

ABSTRACT

The ability to measure free-living and activity-specific energy expenditure (EE) is useful for a variety of purposes. Heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring is emerging as a means for estimating EE and other physiological measures. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of HRV-derived EE across a range of physical intensities and during free-living. Participants (n=30) completed two treadmill tests (walk and VO_2max) measuring EE via Indirect Calorimetry (IC) and with the FirstBeat Bodyguard HRV monitor. Participants also wore the HRV monitors continuously for four consecutive days under free-living conditions. During the walk test, HRV-EE estimates across analysis conditions correlated moderately with IC estimates of EE (r=0.60-0.75; p<0.05). During VO_2max testing, HRV-EE estimates across analysis conditions correlated strongly with IC estimates of EE with (r=0.85-0.98; p<0.05). During free-living conditions, daily average and 4-day total HRV-EE estimates across all analysis conditions correlated strongly (r=0.75-0.98; p<0.05). HRV-EE estimation improves as activity-intensity increases. HRV-EE estimates improve further with the addition of IC-measured HR_max and VO_2max, particularly at low intensities; however, meaningful differences were not seen between values when considering group means. HRV-EE estimates are sufficiently accurate to indicate this method possesses practical utility and may be used for individual EE monitoring.

KEYWORDS
Heart Rate Variability, Indirect Calorimetry, Maximum Heart Rate, VO_2max, Activity Intensity

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] AH Robertson , K King , SD Ritchie , AP Gauthier , M Laurence , SC Dorman , "Validating the Use of Heart Rate Variability for Estimating Energy Expenditure," International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 19 - 26, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2015.030203.

(b). APA Format:
AH Robertson , K King , SD Ritchie , AP Gauthier , M Laurence , SC Dorman (2015). Validating the Use of Heart Rate Variability for Estimating Energy Expenditure. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 3(2), 19 - 26. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2015.030203.