Multiple previous posts in this blog have examined the Movesense Medical module and HR plus in terms of single lead ECG devices. At a relatively moderate cost, they are able to provide accurate HRV and rhythm analysis using the premium version of Kubios software. However, what if you just had a Polar H10 and wanted to see what your ECG rhythm looked like - could you do it? Thanks to a comment on the blog by "Spookymuggs", I believe it can be done.
Here is what the output looks like on an S21:
Pretty cool!
Requirements: Polar H10, spreadsheet program like Excel (for a long session), Polar Sensor Logger App for android
Shortcomings: Kubios free will not process the data, sample rate is only 130 Hz - probably adequate for DFA a1 precision, but not ideal.
Instructions:
- Install the Polar Sensor app, wear the H10 HRM
- Open the app, choose your device, pick ECG as the output type, hit start.

- To see the above graph, scroll to the right under graphs and it should show.
- When you press "stop" you can save the file to your storage to view in Excel.
- Locate the file and open it with a spreadsheet program.
- Just plot time x voltage:
How does it look in Kubios (premium):
- An APC is easily spotted in this strip of mine
- Seems reasonable for rhythm - APC, VPC, etc
And the waveform:
- Not great.
Is it Kubios' fault? No. Here is a view in the android app, magnified:
- You can only get so much resolution out of this low sample rate.
For a similar app designed for the iPhone, please see this
Comments:
- Yes, we can get a rhythm strip from a Polar H10 with just an android app.
- Detecting severe arrhythmia's should not be too difficult for those familiar with reading these tracings.
- To get either HRV or aberrant beat detection, you still need Kubios premium.
- Low sample rate makes DFA a1 determination a questionable no go.
- For those who think they are having abnormal beats and don't have a medical background, YMMV.
Heart rate variability during dynamic exercise
- Firstbeat VO2 estimation - valid or voodoo?
- Heart rate variability during exercise - threshold testing
- Exercise in the heat and VO2 max estimation
- DFA alpha1, HRV complexity and polarized training
- HRV artifact avoidance vs correction, getting it right the first time
- VT1 correlation to HRV indexes - revisited
- DFA a1 and Zone 1 limits - the effect of Kubios artifact correction
- HRV artifact effects on DFA a1 using alternate software
- A just published article on DFA a1 and Zone 1 demarcation
- DFA a1 vs intensity metrics via ramp vs constant power intervals
- DFA a1 decline with intensity, effect of elevated skin temperature
- Fractal Correlation Properties of Heart Rate Variability (DFA a1): A New Biomarker for Intensity Distribution in Endurance Exercise
- Movesense Medical ECG V2.0 Firmware brief review
- Movesense Medical ECG - improving the waveform and HRV accuracy
- DFA a1 and the aerobic threshold, video conference presentation
- DFA a1 - running ramp and sample rate observations with the Movesense ECG
- DFA a1 calculation - Kubios vs Python mini validation
- Frontiers in Physiology - Validation of DFA a1 as a marker of VT1
- Real time Aerobic thresholds and polarized training with HRV Logger
- Active Recovery with HRV Logger
- DFA a1 and exercise intensity FAQ
- DFA a1 agreement using Polar H10, ECG, HRV logger
- DFA a1 post HIT, and as marker of fatigue
- DFA a1 stability over longer exercise times
- DFA a1, Sample rates and Device quirks
- DFA a1 and the HRVT2 - VT2/LT2
- Low DFA a1 while running - a possible fix?
- Runalyze vs Kubios DFA a1 agreement