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September 8, 2026Journal of Rehabilitation MedicineOpen Access

Forearm-worn Polar Verity Sense accurately estimates VO2max vs Polar H10 during submaximal cycling in obesity.

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Why the study?

The study was conducted to assess the validity of the Polar Verity Sense arm-worn heart rate monitor for measuring heart rate in individuals with obesity during the submaximal ergometer cycle Ekblom-Bak test.

Does the Polar Verity Sense arm-worn monitor accurately measure heart rate and estimate VO2max compared to a chest strap in adults with obesity?

Population

49 adults with obesity in an inpatient rehabilitation programme

Comparison

Polar Verity Sense arm-worn monitor (forearm and upper arm) vs Polar H10 chest strap

Design

Validation study

Key result

The Polar Verity Sense worn on the forearm accurately estimated VO2max compared to the Polar H10 chest strap (mean difference -0.025 ml/kg/min) during submaximal cycling in adults with obesity.

Authors

GOGrete Rudi OnstadFLFredrik Klæboe LohneMFMarius Steiro Fimland

Discussion

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Overview

May offer comfortable alternative for submaximal testing in obesity; extends optical-monitor validation but remains hypothesis-generating for clinical adoption.

Key Points

  • To assess the validity and feasibility of the arm-worn Polar Verity Sense optical monitor for measuring heart rate and estimating maximal oxygen consumption during the submaximal Ekblom-Bak cycle ergometer test in adults with obesity.
  • Adults in an inpatient obesity rehabilitation programme completed the Ekblom-Bak cycle test wearing a Polar H10 chest strap and two Verity Sense devices positioned on the forearm and upper arm.
  • Agreement was evaluated via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Lin's concordance correlation coefficients (CCC), Bland-Altman analyses with 95% limits of agreement, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), paired with a post-test feasibility questionnaire.
  • Analyses included 48 participants for heart rate measurements and 49 participants for estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max).
  • Agreement between the Polar H10 chest strap and Verity Sense was exceptionally high, with ICC and CCC values ranging from 0.998 to 0.999 and MAPE ranging between 0.46% and 0.51%.
  • Bland-Altman plots revealed minimal systematic differences between devices, and questionnaire responses indicated that participants preferred the arm-worn sensor over the chest strap.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=49)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does the Polar Verity Sense arm-worn monitor accurately measure heart rate and estimate VO2max compared to a chest strap in adults with obesity?

P
Population
49 adults with obesity (mean age 48 years, 80% female) participating in an inpatient rehabilitation program underwent submaximal cycle ergometry to validate an arm-worn heart rate monitor.
I
Intervention
Polar Verity Sense arm-worn heart rate monitor (placed on forearm and upper arm) during the submaximal Ekblom-Bak cycle test.
C
Comparator
Polar H10 chest strap heart rate monitor.
O
Outcome
Validity of heart rate measurement and estimated VO2max (assessed via ICC, CCC, Bland-Altman analyses, and MAPE).surrogate

Main Result

Mean Difference: -0.025 (95% CI -0.084–0.034)

Absolute Event Rate: 26.9% vs 26.87%

The Polar Verity Sense arm-worn heart rate monitor provides highly accurate heart rate measurements and VO2max estimates comparable to a chest strap in adults with obesity, offering a more comfortable alternative for fitness testing.

Limitations

  • Practical constraints prevented the use of ECG as the gold standard criterion device.
  • Retaining previously assigned workloads for some participants may have reduced the individualization of workload selection.
  • Did not investigate the validity of the device during intensity fluctuations.
  • The 'one size fits all' armband design caused discomfort for some participants with upper arm placement.
  • Validity analyses were based on a single averaged HR value per participant at each work rate.

Cite This Study

Onstad et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity (n=49). Polar Verity Sense vs. Polar H10 chest strap was evaluated on Estimated VO2max (ml/kg/min) (MD -0.025, 95% CI -0.084 to 0.034). The Polar Verity Sense worn on the forearm accurately estimated VO2max compared to the Polar H10 chest strap (mean difference -0.025 ml/kg/min) during submaximal cycling in adults with obesity.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7d558e84d0ff5b46e73https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.44975
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

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