Polar H10 ECG tracing - a short how to guide

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