Running Watch Interference

Question: Has anyone had the experience of having their running watch give an incorrect heartrate because of interference from the pacemaker? My Garmin forerunner 225 jumped from 120 bpm to 175 bpm and wouldn't correct until I removed it and then put it back on. I am going to see if wearing it on the other wrist makes a difference.

11 Comments

I think you may be wrong Bill

by IAN MC - 2016-02-06 03:02:24

If you do a search on here you will see that there have been several previous posts from people having problems with the Garmin Forerunner .

Many found it worked fine prior to the PM implant and then worked very erratically after getting a PM. I use a Polar device when I run and have had no problems.

Ian

Optical HR monitors

by BillH - 2016-02-06 03:02:35

The PM has nothing to do with the problem.

It is more likely the fit and what part of the arm you put it on.

In this review of the 225 he gives a number of hints about how to get good readings. And switching arms is one.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/08/garmin-forerunner-225-depth-review.html

monitors

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-06 03:02:49

I've never been able to find one that works accurately, tho some members have had better luck. Either the pacer interferes and it shows no reading, or it picks up the pacer spikes as beats and shows a count too high.

Hi turtle

by IAN MC - 2016-02-06 04:02:25

I have a Polar FT2 which uses old fashioned technology and needs a chest strap but it works for me.

Your Garmin 225 is a fascinating piece of kit and I hope that changing wrists has solved your problems. I believe it has a fiendish green light which shines through your skin and somehow measures blood-flow and heart-rate.

I did read a very good report on it in one of the running magazines but the point was made that it doesn't work quite so well on some skin types .

Hope it works for you, and enjoy your running

Ian

Running Watch Interference (2)

by turtle - 2016-02-06 04:02:54

Just returned from job/walk with PM on right arm. No interference. Have two more days before return deadline. Not familiar with Polar, Ian. Information?

Ian

by BillH - 2016-02-06 05:02:32

Most Forerunner models that have HR monitoring use chest straps.

It is only a couple of newer models that use optical and they have been out for short period of time.

So many of the complaints posted her are for the models with a strap.

And if you look at the reviews of all of brands and types of devices that use optical HR monitor you will see that a number of people will have problems with them when they are active.

For those that are interested www.dcrainmaker.com has detailed reviews for almost every kind of fitness monitoring device, but mostly for running, swimming, and biking.

Also the comments section are a goldmine of information on problems that people find in real life and also tricks to make them work the way that they want to.

BTW, your FT2 does not have GPS nor except a foot pod. And it the chest sensor uses an analog signal to transmit the HR.

Newer Polar devices uses BlueTooth and might process the signal differently.

I have a Polar RC300X which also uses the older analog chest module.

And a Garmin bike Edge 500 which uses an ANT+ signal to send the HR.

I am not sure as I don't have any way of directly mesasuring the signal or how much filtering that each unit uses in the display.

But while they will usually track each other, they will often be somewhat different. And on both I have seen times where they will be completely off such as Turtle had.

My guess is that the Polar sensor sends HR information and the Garmin sends individual beats that the display unit converts to HR.

Now I have a very irregular heart beat, but mostly asymptomatic and have been holding off in getting a PM.


Bill

by IAN MC - 2016-02-06 06:02:43

Thanks for the comments , very interesting.

I see that a chest strap can be paired with the Garmin 225, I'm not sure why you would want to ?

You must be one of the few regular posters on here who hasn't yet got a PM ; because of your posts you will get free membership of the club if you ever decide to become a full member.

Cheers

Ian

Hi Turtle...

by Tattoo Man - 2016-02-06 07:02:00


...like the others here, ..I have had skewed readings on HRMs...

Double spikes are pretty common..

When I used to wear a PM Dog Tag skewed readouts were common..I found that by chucking the tag down my back it made an improvement....

By the Bye...I found that chucking the Dog Tag in the trash made me feel a whole lot better even with an '''Indicated''' HR of X-100...

I now run on how I feel ..not on what I read off a watch...a really good runner that I know..as in..wins Marathons once told me to run on how you feel ..because the trap of measuring everything is a sure fire way of being constantly disappointed..

Worth a thought..??

Tattoo Man...currently in Bulgaria where I plan to do some uphill Blue Run running.......I'll get those Yak-Trax on and head for the snow.

Garmin

by golden_snitch - 2016-02-06 07:02:23

I have had problems with a Garmin Forerunner, too, it showed heart rates that were way too slow; sometimes only 20-30 bpm when I ran. Had a Polar heart rate monitor before that worked really well. So, when the Garmin didn't work at all - I also didn't like that the GPS needed minutes to locate me -, I got a more advanced Polar with a stride sensor and chest strap instead. It's an RCX 3 and I'm very happy with it :-)

Optical sensors

by WillieG - 2016-02-06 08:02:26

Shortly after I received my PM for exercised induced AV block, I used the Polar FT7 with the chest strap, and it seemed to work very well. Nine months later when the blocks became much more frequent, the monitor kept showing drops to zero that lasted quite awhile. I tried the Alpha Mio and the Fitbit HR with optical sensors and both had a HR drop, rather than HR rise, when exercising and were way off. They seemed to work OK when resting. Then I bought the Garmin Forerunner 220 paired with a Scosche optical sensor band that goes either on your forearm or right above the elbow. It has 3 sensor lights..2 green and 1 yellow. It seems to work better for me than the chest straps and I find the arm band to be more comfortable than a chest strap. Occasionally, I see high spikes or drops for short times that aren't appropriate and I've wondered if they needed a full charge. Other than that, I have been pleased with the performance.

Polar FT2 also

by Grateful Heart - 2016-02-07 07:02:10


It works fine for me. It registered over 200 during an exercise class and my next interrogation showed over 200 during the time and day I took that particular class. They may not work for all but I am convinced it works for me.

Of course, we are all different.

Grateful Heart

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It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.