The Real Science of Sport Podcast Can You Trust Your Sports Watch?
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Feb 19, 2025 Dr. Joe Warne, a former international athlete and performance coach, dives into the reliability of data from wearable tech. He critiques accuracy, especially around heart rate metrics, and urges listeners to carefully interpret the data. The discussion emphasizes the balance between data reliance and intuitive understanding in athletic training. Warne also explores the rapid evolution of sports technology, questioning the impact of marketing versus functionality, and looks towards the future of AI in sports. Get ready to rethink the metrics that matter!
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Early Tech Use
- In the 1920s, Paavo Nurmi used a stopwatch, then cutting-edge technology, to track time and effort.
- In the 1930s, German athletes manually monitored heart rate between intervals, showcasing early performance optimization.
Context Matters
- The trustworthiness of wearable data depends on the context, especially for metrics like heart rate variability (HRV).
- Accurate HRV measurement requires controlled conditions, like measuring before rising, using reliable monitors, and standardized protocols.
Measurements vs. Estimations
- Wearable metrics can be measurements, estimations, or guesses, each with varying reliability.
- Even measured data, like heart rate variability, can have errors, as highlighted by Apple Watch's underperformance in research.