Heart rate monitor

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Photo of a heart rate monitor showing chest strap and watch
X-ray image of a chest strap (left: frontal view; right: side view). Visible is the circuit board, the antenna for data transfer and the battery.
Photo of a strapless heart rate monitor
Photo of a Polar RC3 GPS heart rate monitor watch - chest strap not shown

This article refers to a device used by non-scientists. For the article on the medical device performing a similar function, see Electrocardiography.



Early models consisted of a monitoring box with a set of electrode leads which attached to the chest. The first wireless EKG Heart rate monitor was invented in 1977 as a training aid for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski team and as 'intensity training' became a popular concept in athletic circles in the mid-80s, retail sales of wireless personal heart monitors started from 1983. [1]


Modern heart rate monitors usually comprise two elements: a chest strap transmitter and a wrist receiver or mobile phone (which usually doubles as a watch or phone). In early plastic straps, water or liquid was required to get good performance. Later units have used conductive smart fabric with built-in microprocessors which analyse the EKG signal to determine heart rate.

Strapless heart rate monitors now allow the user to just touch two sensors on a wristwatch display for a few seconds to view their heart rate.[2] These are popular for their comfort and ease of use though they don't give as much detail as monitors which use a chest strap.

More advanced models will offer measurements of heart rate variability, activity, and breathing rate to assess parameters relating to a subject's fitness. Sensor fusion algorithms allow these monitors to detect core temperature and dehydration

Another style of heart rate monitor replaces the plastic around-the-chest strap with fabric sensors - the most common of these is a sports bra for women which includes sensors in the fabric.


Newer versions include a microprocessor which is continuously monitoring the EKG and calculating the heart rate, and other parameters. These may include accelerometers which can detect speed and distance eliminating the need for foot worn devices.

There are a wide number of receiver designs, with various features. These include average heart rate over exercise period, time in a specific heart rate zone, calories burned, breathing rate, built-in speed and distance, and detailed logging that can be downloaded to a computer.

See also[edit]