Heart Rate Monitoring on the Cheap
November 12, 2013 1:53 PM Subscribe
Dear Hive Mind,
My friend (a graduate student in psychology) wants to collect physiological measures for her dissertation. However, she doesn't have much money with which to do so. What is the cheapest way for her to accurately record the heart rate of some undergraduates? How much more will it cost her to be able to export the data to a computer?
Thanks 10^6,
zscore
We need more information.
How many people? Simultaneously or can a device be passed around? Monitoring for how long? Need long-term monitoring or short-term but high resolution data (HR over days or rapid changes over the course of tens of seconds)? 'accurately' means what here? In the lab, underwater or doing exercises?
ps: there are android and windows phone apps for this too (along with the ios one). $40 BP cuffs from your corner drug-store will also display HR. Amazon has over 1000 products from $24 upwards.
posted by Xhris at 2:17 PM on November 12, 2013
How many people? Simultaneously or can a device be passed around? Monitoring for how long? Need long-term monitoring or short-term but high resolution data (HR over days or rapid changes over the course of tens of seconds)? 'accurately' means what here? In the lab, underwater or doing exercises?
ps: there are android and windows phone apps for this too (along with the ios one). $40 BP cuffs from your corner drug-store will also display HR. Amazon has over 1000 products from $24 upwards.
posted by Xhris at 2:17 PM on November 12, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for your input so far everyone!
She is in the planning stage of her dissertation and will certainly get IRB approval before anything moves forward. However, she does not want to submit several different IRB applications, and in preparing a final IRB she needs to propose a specific apparatus.
Here's that additional info:
- Only one person at one time needs to be recorded. The device will need to be able to capture data for at least 100 persons, but only one device is needed.
- The task is a stress test and the individual will not be anticipating experiencing a challenging situation. Therefore, the participant should (ideally) not be able to see their heart rate at any time. However, their data should be able to be easily recorded and transmitted to use in subsequent analyses.
- The participant's heart rate needs to be recorded for at least 40 minutes, and she needs continuous data throughout the task. Specifically peak reaction (or lack thereof) to challenge and time it takes to return to baseline heart rate are the two variables of interest.
- The research questions involve physiological reactivity and self-regulation in response to an unanticipated challenge (similar to the Trier Social Stress test).
She has looked into heart rate watches and bands, but is unsure if these would be most appropriate outside of an exercise paradigm. Might they not be sensitive enough?
And of course she needs to ideally use something that isn't too new technology (to scare the IRB away) but is still pretty cheap.
Thanks everyone!
posted by zscore at 2:43 PM on November 12, 2013
She is in the planning stage of her dissertation and will certainly get IRB approval before anything moves forward. However, she does not want to submit several different IRB applications, and in preparing a final IRB she needs to propose a specific apparatus.
Here's that additional info:
- Only one person at one time needs to be recorded. The device will need to be able to capture data for at least 100 persons, but only one device is needed.
- The task is a stress test and the individual will not be anticipating experiencing a challenging situation. Therefore, the participant should (ideally) not be able to see their heart rate at any time. However, their data should be able to be easily recorded and transmitted to use in subsequent analyses.
- The participant's heart rate needs to be recorded for at least 40 minutes, and she needs continuous data throughout the task. Specifically peak reaction (or lack thereof) to challenge and time it takes to return to baseline heart rate are the two variables of interest.
- The research questions involve physiological reactivity and self-regulation in response to an unanticipated challenge (similar to the Trier Social Stress test).
She has looked into heart rate watches and bands, but is unsure if these would be most appropriate outside of an exercise paradigm. Might they not be sensitive enough?
And of course she needs to ideally use something that isn't too new technology (to scare the IRB away) but is still pretty cheap.
Thanks everyone!
posted by zscore at 2:43 PM on November 12, 2013
Have your friend go to the library and ask a librarian for help. I guarantee that other psychologists have solved this problem, and it will be described in the methods section of their theses, dissertations, and articles. This will require reading the whole article, not just the abstract. /medical librarian out.
posted by holyrood at 3:00 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by holyrood at 3:00 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the input all.
It seems like she's done her homework and unfortunately, it seems like almost all the research in this area in psychology (which is relatively new to psychology) is done with pretty expensive equipment setups (Mindware Technologies/BioLab). My friend is familiar with this equipment, knows how to use it, but does not have access to it.
The closest anyone has come seems to be Actiwave Cardio from Camntech http://camntech.com/products/actiwave-cardio/actiwave-cardio-overview
but it costs $3,000 per pack.
She wants to bring some novel ideas perhaps from other disciplines to her advisor/program and think creatively about how to get her dissertation work done on a budget (~$1000).
if anyone out there knows of any specific studies/justification/feasibility for monitoring heart rate using consumer-level heart rate watches or other inexpensive technology that would be most useful.
posted by zscore at 3:13 PM on November 12, 2013
It seems like she's done her homework and unfortunately, it seems like almost all the research in this area in psychology (which is relatively new to psychology) is done with pretty expensive equipment setups (Mindware Technologies/BioLab). My friend is familiar with this equipment, knows how to use it, but does not have access to it.
The closest anyone has come seems to be Actiwave Cardio from Camntech http://camntech.com/products/actiwave-cardio/actiwave-cardio-overview
but it costs $3,000 per pack.
She wants to bring some novel ideas perhaps from other disciplines to her advisor/program and think creatively about how to get her dissertation work done on a budget (~$1000).
if anyone out there knows of any specific studies/justification/feasibility for monitoring heart rate using consumer-level heart rate watches or other inexpensive technology that would be most useful.
posted by zscore at 3:13 PM on November 12, 2013
Perhaps Polar makes one that will provide your friend with this data? http://www.polar.com/us-en/products Surely one of the heart rate monitors out there meant for athletes would have a feature that would cover a 40 minute stretch and download to a computer.
I have a $40 Polar heart rate monitor for running and it works great for me. I think mine just tells me the current heart rate, though, and does not store anything. An more expensive heart rate monitor might do more (but not be too expensive for the intended purpose).
posted by AllieTessKipp at 3:37 PM on November 12, 2013
I have a $40 Polar heart rate monitor for running and it works great for me. I think mine just tells me the current heart rate, though, and does not store anything. An more expensive heart rate monitor might do more (but not be too expensive for the intended purpose).
posted by AllieTessKipp at 3:37 PM on November 12, 2013
Will the test subjects have their hands free? If so, you could use this hand held monitor. The school could already have the appropriate data logging software ("LoggerPro")- I've used it in chemistry and geology classes, so far (for temperature probes, pH probes, etc.)
As a result of a grant or Vernier promotion or something, there's a full set of sensors in one of my geology labs, including some of the more medical probes. If this probe sounds like it would work, she should start asking around some of the science departments and see if there's one stashed someplace random.
posted by Secretariat at 5:45 PM on November 12, 2013
As a result of a grant or Vernier promotion or something, there's a full set of sensors in one of my geology labs, including some of the more medical probes. If this probe sounds like it would work, she should start asking around some of the science departments and see if there's one stashed someplace random.
posted by Secretariat at 5:45 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Or maybe this EKG sensor? Or here's a heart rate monitor accessory.
posted by Secretariat at 5:53 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Secretariat at 5:53 PM on November 12, 2013
I use that heart rate app. It doesn't give heart rate instantly, and doesn't (accurately) show the heart rate as it changes. It measures until it gets a valid rate, displays it, then ends. Seems to be quite accurate. Many doctor's offices in the US have instant heart rate monitors that will also show the heart rate as it changes. 'Exporting data' by typing it in is traditional.
posted by theora55 at 5:55 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by theora55 at 5:55 AM on November 13, 2013
Best answer: I have two options to suggest:
1- Get a sport watch that pairs with an around-the-chest heart rate monitor. For example, the Garmin Forerunner series can record HR for several hours with no problem. You complete each “workout” between participants then when the session is complete, upload to Garmin Connect website. From there, you will be able to export the HR results as a CSV file and import in Excel.
One possible advantage is that you only need to have the watch within a range of 6-8 feet during the experiment, or have them wear it with the watch face taped over. The participants can then get up and move around, not only stay seated and pluged into a computer.
2- If you want to skip the sports watch and record to the computer directly, you would need software such as SportTracks with the Live Recording and HRV plugin (Shareware/Paid plugin). I have not used it before but looks like it would do the job. You would need a Garmin USB ANT+ Stick (~50$) for the computer to receive the data and an Ant+ Heart Rate Monitor (~55$) to transmit.
Best option would be to buy the Garmin FR70 for 130$. It comes with the watch, the HR monitor strap and the USB receiver. That way you have all the equipment needed to try out both solutions for not a lot of money. I use Garmin as an example here because it is what I use and know but Polar and other brands can probably do the same.
In all cases, if she uses a heart rate monitor that contacts the skin directly, investing in a tube of electrode gel (5$) will ensure consistent results with no drop outs. It is what doctors use during actual medial test to ensure proper contact.
posted by TinTitan at 8:43 AM on November 13, 2013
1- Get a sport watch that pairs with an around-the-chest heart rate monitor. For example, the Garmin Forerunner series can record HR for several hours with no problem. You complete each “workout” between participants then when the session is complete, upload to Garmin Connect website. From there, you will be able to export the HR results as a CSV file and import in Excel.
One possible advantage is that you only need to have the watch within a range of 6-8 feet during the experiment, or have them wear it with the watch face taped over. The participants can then get up and move around, not only stay seated and pluged into a computer.
2- If you want to skip the sports watch and record to the computer directly, you would need software such as SportTracks with the Live Recording and HRV plugin (Shareware/Paid plugin). I have not used it before but looks like it would do the job. You would need a Garmin USB ANT+ Stick (~50$) for the computer to receive the data and an Ant+ Heart Rate Monitor (~55$) to transmit.
Best option would be to buy the Garmin FR70 for 130$. It comes with the watch, the HR monitor strap and the USB receiver. That way you have all the equipment needed to try out both solutions for not a lot of money. I use Garmin as an example here because it is what I use and know but Polar and other brands can probably do the same.
In all cases, if she uses a heart rate monitor that contacts the skin directly, investing in a tube of electrode gel (5$) will ensure consistent results with no drop outs. It is what doctors use during actual medial test to ensure proper contact.
posted by TinTitan at 8:43 AM on November 13, 2013
Best answer: From a perspective of an athlete who has used heart rate measurement, there are several different things meant by "heart rate". Most of the time it just means beats per minute. This is the easiest thing to catalog and there are affordable tools for doing this.
The more complicated side of the house is analyzing the stroke itself. For this you find EKG and heart rate variability tools. These are used to measure stress levels. Athletes use HRV in particular to identify patterns that indicate over training. There are some new tools that are much more affordable in this area now.
If she needs the medical grade devices I wonder if it might be possible to contact the manufacturers and make a strong case for buying one at a discount. They might have a refurb model or they may just feel generous.
posted by dgran at 11:46 AM on November 13, 2013
The more complicated side of the house is analyzing the stroke itself. For this you find EKG and heart rate variability tools. These are used to measure stress levels. Athletes use HRV in particular to identify patterns that indicate over training. There are some new tools that are much more affordable in this area now.
If she needs the medical grade devices I wonder if it might be possible to contact the manufacturers and make a strong case for buying one at a discount. They might have a refurb model or they may just feel generous.
posted by dgran at 11:46 AM on November 13, 2013
Best answer: This device should be up to the job and it is very inexpensive: Bitalino
Might require some programming!
posted by benign at 6:18 PM on November 13, 2013
Might require some programming!
posted by benign at 6:18 PM on November 13, 2013
Based on my naive understanding of physiology, a tool for this job is a pulse oximeter, which fits over your finger. A search for "pulse oximeter usb output" turned up several in the <$50-100 range, such as the one linked above that claims 30h data storage.
posted by zachxman at 7:34 AM on November 26, 2013
posted by zachxman at 7:34 AM on November 26, 2013
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