Walking heart rate accuracy tweak

[schmict]

I've had and used this Charge 2 for just over 2 weeks.  I do interval workouts alternating with walking every other day. I previously used a finger tip oximeter for heart rate tracking during workout/walks but didn't care for having to stop and hold still for the readings, I also would manually check about every 1/4 mile or so.  I am very familiar with where my heart rate is during exercise. Anyway, got the fitbit and noticed after manually logging exercise as workouts that during interval days it was accurate, double checked against oximeter...sometimes a little behind but overall OK. During walks wildly inaccurate, it would shoot up to over 150 bpm in the first 1/4 mile, and max at 170 before 1 mile. Believe me I know it should have been about 110-115 bpm and confirmed manually. I've tried all canned responses on the boards and found tightening helped a little but not much. I have finally discovered after quite a few test trials, that if I swing my arms in a cadence, which I normally do,I think it records arms swings on top of the actual heart rate..adding to the BPM.  If I walk with my arms bent at 90 degrees and keep my forearms level with the ground, I can pump my arms forward and back, but not drop them down, the fitbit is very accurate, i double checked against oximeter and manually. It makes sense as gravity will cause your blood vessels to expand as you swing your arms down and probably record as a beat. So now I walk a little differently, like a power walker, and maybe look a little funny but the heartrate and graphs are accurate now.

[AlvaroFitbit]

@schmict I hope you're doing well! Thank you for sharing your experience with the HR monitor on your Charge 2 as this can help other members in the same situation so they can improve the HR reading.

I'll be around!

[SunsetRunner]

I agree with your assessment that moving your arms when walking negatively affects the accuracy of the Charge 2.  It appears to be very accurate when you're at rest but all bets are off during any kind of physical activity. I noticed recently that when I take my dog for a leisure walk the Charge 2 had my heart rate sometimes at 145 or maybe higher. Clearly that's not correct. I recently purchased a Garmin Vivoactive HR because I wanted a device I could use with my newly purchased Wahoo Tickr X chest strap. This morning I put the Vivoactive HR on my left wrist and the Charge 2 on my right. Then I took my dog for a walk. The Charge 2 once again was erratic showing a high heart rate topping out at 145 while the Vivoactive HR was showing 84. I've tried resetting the Charge 2 but it makes no difference. I won't be using my Charge 2 when exercising. Instead I will use the highly accurate Wahoo Tickr X chest strap and my Garmin Vivoactive HR. The Wahoo Tickr X can be paired with my Vivoactive HR. I can turn off the built-in heart rate laser sensor in the Vivoactive HR and use the heart rate data sent from the Wahoo Tickr X.

[Swampergene]

The Charge 2 needs to be fairly tight during workouts, including walking, to see best results. Without wearing the Fitbit, flex your wrist and notice how much it changes shape. If worn too loose that flexing can cause gaps which can affect accuracy. I almost gave up on my Charge 2 in favor of an Apple Watch but I like the price point of the Fitbit as well as the app, so I started looking at the technology and mechanics behind the Fitbit. When I first got mine my results were very accurate, but as the warmer weather started coming and I started sweating more problems started happening at higher rates, even when worn tight. Also, as sun exposure increases my skin changes during the summmer...my light freckles become darker and my skin gets like a sort of bumpy texture compared to the cooler months. I think one downside to a smaller tracker is the smaller footprint available for the sensor mechanism, and all of these things affect the ability of any tracker as far as "seeing" capillaries. So, I came up with a plan...since we can't make the tracker larger, let's see if we can make the capillaries bigger. It's not as weird as it sounds, as pain rubs work by expanding blood vessels. Sooo....I tried rubbing a cheap dollar store menthol and camphor oil chest rub into the skin on my wrist. The results were clearly visible, in fact I could watch the tracker adjusting to my HR in real time like an Apple Watch does. So my tips that have become my routine are this...I keep a razor in my shower and shave that small spot on my wrist daily, I exfoliate the area well to remove dead skin and keep the live skin healthy, and before my evening exercise I rub a bit of the vapo-rub stuff on my wrist (wash and dry well). I'm happy with the results for the most part now, they are as good as the two pulse ox meters I have...which can vary themselves for the same reasons a Fitbit can. Short of a chest strap, the Fitbit is working as good and as reliable as the fingertip devices.

[Roomto]

As for oils, There's a variety of them. Though each and every affects your condition differently. I use it to relieve stress and pain. Here's a good list Basil Essential Oil Linalool.

[SunsetRunner]

I experience the same thing with my Ionic. Seems like it has become more of an issue since the last firmware update. I have tried tightening the band, loosening it, moving from non-dominant to dominant, and everything aside from shaving my arm. What I did find is when I walked with my arms bent, it was accurate.  I guess I look pretty goofy on the treadmill when I'm doing a high incline walking session. Maybe there's a fix #FitBit?

[Blanche123]

This is good to know!  Couldn’t figure out why my max HR was higher when casually walking than when doing cardio. Fitbit watch seemed accurate during spinning and swimming, but walking HR got way too high. Really confusing as I just came down with AFib  Thanks for the info!