Compliance of self-measured HRV using smartphone applications in collegiate athletes

Purpose

With the continued rise of technology in sports, many innovations have been made with smartphone applications designed to measure physiological fatigue and recovery. However, the proper methodology and potential pitfalls for long-term monitoring have not been fully explored. Therefore, this study aimed to observe compliance rates of self-measured daily heart rate variability (HRV) recordings in collegiate athletes from two different sports teams throughout their competitive seasons.

Methods

Sixteen male hockey players and forty-seven female rowers participated in this study. Daily HRV measurements were collected over 17 weeks. Athletes were categorized as Compliant or Non-compliant based on a 43% compliance rate threshold.

Results

Of the 16 hockey players, all were above the 43% threshold and considered Compliant. As a team, weekly compliance rates varied throughout the data collection reaching a high of 99.11% and a low of 37.50%. Of the 47 rowers, 26 athletes were categorized as Compliant while the remaining 21 athletes were categorized as Non-compliant, falling below the 43% threshold. As a team, weekly compliance rates varied throughout the data collection reaching a high of 70.81% and a low of 8.70%.

Conclusions

Smartphone-derived measures of HRV are valid and reliable tools for assessing training status and recovery in athletes. New applications provide a practical means for obtaining daily recordings. However, longitudinal monitoring of team-sport athletes may be difficult due to decreases in compliance. Coaches and practitioners should have plans in place to keep athletes actively involved in data collection with effective communication and proper explanation of the importance of the measures being taken.