Heart rate accuracy Charge 5

[pldngh91]

Hello,

I've very recently only started my Fitbit journey and initially started wearing my Fitbit on my right arm (dominant). I found that after a workout I had burned around 600kcals and I think that was due to the Fitbit detecting my heart rate.

After doing some research and speaking to friends that use Fitbit was suggested that I should wear my Fitbit on my left arm (nondominant). I have been wearing it there for like two days and it hasn't been detecting my heart rate. When I run the ECG it is saying that its inconclusive because it's normally down around 46-48 BPM. I've also completed the same workout that burned 600+kcals while wearing it on the left arm and it only totalled 194kcal. This is when I realised that something isn't adding up!

I've tried turning Heart Rate on and off and restarting the Fitbit and still getting the same results.

I've now moved it back to my right arm as of this morning and I'm getting a steady reading of around 51-57 BPM which is definitely more likely to be true. 

So I guess all I wanted to know which arm should I be wearing my Fitbit on - or even IF there is a correct arm to wear it on? And does anyone know why my Heart Rate isn't detected on the left side but is steady on the right? Found it a bit weird and frustrating! Thanks for all your help in advance!

Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity

[DavideFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi, welcome to the Fitbit Community forums, @pldngh91. 

I appreciate the information provided about the inconvenience you've been experiencing with your Charge 5 and that you already tried a few steps. 

You should be able to use the device on both the dominant and non dominant hands. However, some users do prefer to use the device on the non dominant hand to reduce the sensitivity and the amount of steps recorded. 

Before considering other options and if you feel the heart rate recorded is not accurate, I recommend that you try restarting the device using the three pulse restart method mentioned here below, instead of the restart option found on the Charge 5 itself: 

1. Connect your device to the charging cable. For instructions, see How do I charge my Fitbit device?
2. Press the button located on the flat end of the charger 3 times (end of the USB cable), pausing for 1 second between presses. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

In addition, please follow the instructions in this article to improve the accuracy of heart rate information and check the information mentioned here about other factors that could affect your heart rate reading; this has been useful to other users who have experienced something similar. 

Hope this helps, I'll be around. 

[charleskn]

Note that there is a setting for using the dominant vs the non-dominant hand, but that ony affects the sensitivity of the algorithm to hand motions.

As for the heart rate, do you happen to have tattoos on your one arm/wrist? Photo HR sensors often have a hard time with dark skin and tattoos.

[pldngh91]

Hey, thanks for getting back to me, I am tattooed on my left arm - definitely heavier than my right so I think you may have hit the nail on the head! Thank you for response ☺️

[charleskn]

Something to try, if it works for you. I sometimes wore my Charge with the sensor on the inside of my wrist. That said, the HR accuracy should NOT change depending on which arm you use (not accounting for tattoos). FWIW, I also wear an armband heart rate monitor on my forearm during workouts, just because I can't get enough data 🙄

[DavideFitbit]

@charleskn @pldngh91 Thanks for sharing your feedback and experience with this. I'm sure this will be useful for other users as well. 

See you around. 

[air2raley]

Oh brother....this does not work.  When is fitbit going to admit that heart rate monitoring does not work

[DavideFitbit]

@air2raley Thanks for your reply and for confirming that you've been having the same problem with your Charge 5. 

I've been informed that you already contacted the Customer Support team for further assistance with this. In this case, I recommend that you continue the communication with them and I'm sure they'll let you know how to proceed or what are the options available for you. 

See you around.