Field based reliability and validity of the Bioharness multivariable monitoring device

Johnstone, James A.; Ford, Paul A.; Hughes, Gerwyn; Watson, Tim; Mitchell, Andrew C.S.; Garrett, Andrew T.

Abstract

The Bioharness™ device is designed for monitoring physiological variables in free-living situations but has only been proven to be reliable and valid in a laboratory environment. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the Bioharness™ using a field based protocol. Twenty healthy males participated. Heart rate (HR), breathing frequency (BF) and accelerometry (ACC) were assessed by simultaneous measurement of two Bioharness™ devices and a test-retest of a discontinuous incremental walk-jog-run protocol (4 - 11 km·h-1) completed in a sports hall. Adopted precision of measurement devices were; HR: Polar T31 (Polar Electro), BF: Spirometer (Cortex Metalyser), ACC: Oxygen expenditure (Cortex Metalyser). For all data, precision of measurement reported good relationships (r = 0.61 to 0.67, p < 0.01) and large Limits of Agreement for HR (>79.2 b·min-1) and BF (>54.7 br·min-1). ACC presented excellent precision (r = 0.94, p < 0.01). Results for HR (r= ~0.91, p < 0.01: CV <7.6) and ACC (r > 0.97, p < 0.01; CV <14.7) suggested these variables are reliable. BF presented more variable data (r = 0.46-0.61, p < 0.01; CV < 23.7). As velocity of movement increased (>8 km·h-1) data became more erroneous. A data cleaning protocol removed gross errors in the data analysis and subsequent reliability and validity statistics improved across all variables. In conclusion, the Bioharness™ HR and ACC variables have demonstrated reliability and validity in a field setting, though data collected at higher velocities should be treated with caution. Measuring human physiological responses in a field based environment allows for more ecologically valid data to be collected and devices such as the Bioharness™ could be used by exercise professionals to begin to further investigate this area.

Citation

Johnstone, J. A., Ford, P. A., Hughes, G., Watson, T., Mitchell, A. C., & Garrett, A. T. (2012). Field based reliability and validity of the Bioharness multivariable monitoring device. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 11(4), 643 - 652

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 29, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Dec 1, 2012
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Apr 4, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 18, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1303-2968
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 643 - 652
• Keywords: Multi-variable; Physiological monitoring; Ecological validity; New technology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/428844
• Publisher URL: https://www.jssm.org/jssm-11-643.xml%3Eabst