Accuracy of Heart Rate Grips

Many of today’s treadmills, elliptical machines and exercise bikes have built-in hand grip heart rate monitors. While it’s a good feature to have, these heart rate monitors aren’t always accurate. There are ways to improve the accuracy of each reading, but in general, the heart rate displayed during exercise is spotty at best. You can do an easy test to see if the hand grip heart rate monitor on your machine displays accurate results. If it doesn’t, the tried and true method of checking your pulse and counting the heart beats over a period of time is an effective alternative.

  1. How the Grip Monitors Work

    • The metal on each handle grip senses your pulse through your skin. It works best if your hands are slightly moist, but not dripping with sweat. Squeezing the grips too tightly can reduce the accuracy of the reading, so use a mildly-firm grip. It takes most handlebar grip monitors 10 to 20 seconds to correctly read your heart rate. Unless the exercise machine specifically states it, the grips are not continuous heart rate monitors, which means you shouldn’t hold the metal grips throughout the entire workout. Instead, check your heart rate periodically, such as every five minutes to ensure you’re exercising within the heart rate zone of your choice.

    What it’s Best For

    • A 2013 study conducted at the Department of Kinesiology, San Francisco University tested the accuracy of heart rate grips on treadmills at various speeds. The participants checked their pulse using the grips every minute while simultaneously having their heart rate check via electrocardiograph, or EKG. The results showed that at very low speeds or no movement at all, the accuracy of the handgrip heart rate sensors were within four beats-per-minute of the actual heart rate. However, when participants were moving any faster than that, the results were far less accurate. Based on these results, handgrip heart rate monitors are best for low-intensity exercise or when you’re not in motion.

    Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3

    • You can test the accuracy of any handgrip-style heart rate monitor by comparing it to your pulse. Check your pulse during exercise on your neck or wrist and count the number of beats for six seconds. Multiple the result by 10 to determine your current heart rate. Next, compare this figure to what the heart rate grips are telling you. If both readings are pretty similar, your grips are probably accurate and working properly. Do this test several times during a workout at varying exercise intensities to ensure the grips continue to read properly during low-intensity and high-intensity exercise.

    Improving Accuracy

    • How you grip the handlebar makes a difference in its accuracy. If it reads erratically, change your grip to where your thumb is next to your index finger rather than an over-under type of grip. Excessively sweaty hands can also affect the accuracy of the heart rate reading. Keep a towel within an arm’s reach to dry your hands right before you grip the handlebars. As stated previously, handlebar heart rate monitors aren’t as accurate while you’re in motion, especially when moving at an intense rate. So, stop moving for 10 to 20 seconds as you check your heart rate to get a more accurate reading. It may seem counterproductive to stop mid-workout to check your heart rate, but that’s a fact of life when using these handlebar monitors.