Heart rate monitors that you wear on your finger are called ring monitors. These small monitors help gauge the intensity of your workout. However, the monitors may also provide crucial health information in circumstances other than when you're working out. While early versions may not be particularly accurate for athletes, they have potential for uses beyond working out.
Classic Use
Recreational and professional athletes typically use a heart rate monitor because they want an accurate reading of the heart rate during a workout. When running a marathon or attending an indoor cycling class, use a heart rate monitor to identify if you're in your targeted aerobic workout zone, which is 65 to 85 percent of your target heart rate. For men, that target heart rate is 220 minus your age. For women, though, the rate is 206 minus 88 percent of your age.
Medical Use
A heart rate monitor can also provide feedback on your heart rate to a distant monitoring station. In the 2004 conference proceedings from the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Chinese researchers discussed the need for monitoring an aging population. One of their suggested devices is a ring monitor, which can be built for a patient to wear, sending signals electronically to caretakers.
Drawbacks
The main drawback of a ring monitor is that it may not be accurate. In an article published in the Feb. 11, 2008, edition of the "Los Angeles Times," a reporter found that the ring monitor was off by as high as 15 beats per minute. In addition, the numbers weren't consistent. The monitor took up to 20 seconds to get a reading, which is a long break for those seeking a quick reading while out on the trail.
Potential
Ring monitors are relatively cheap and inconspicuous. While early versions may not be particularly accurate, the small size makes them attractive, especially for those who find a normal heart monitor, one that uses a strap and monitor, uncomfortable or bulky. In addition, a ring monitor, once the kinks are worked out, may be able to provide insight into the health of an aging parent or alert health care workers when a patient is in distress.
References
- "The New York Times"; Recalibrated Formula Eases Women’s Workouts; Tara Parker-Pope; July 2005
- Conference Proceedings IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society; Wearable Medical Devices for Tele-home Healthcare; K. Hung et al; 2004
- "Los Angeles Times"; Monitors Can Go Strapless; Roy M. Wallack; February 2008
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