hi!
i want to do some heart rate monitoring for running, intervals etc
from what I read even the more expensive wrist watch/ strap systems are very inaccurate at higher exertion ranges (ie 160bpm+) because they have trouble tracking how fast your blood vessels fill with blood
https://www.wareable.com/sport/optical-heart-rate-tech-the-experts-speak-9763
whereas the android app using your camera is quite accurate. i think this is because it measures the optical blood flow on your finger, which is easier than through the blood vessels on your wrist
of course, you can't be holding your phone to your finger during a sprint :P
my question: has anyone tried those pulse oximeter things they use in doctors clinics that you put on your finger? they measure heart rate, not just oxygen saturation, and they sell portable battery powered ones you can just take out of your pocket and snap on to your finger... and i imagine they would be even more accurate as a fingertip measurement than a smartphone
my only concern is that unlike the specifically designed sports watches, they wouldn't have some algorithm/programming built in to try to compensate for your body movement which might mess up the correct BPM - and this could outweight the increased accuracy of using a fingertip vs a wrist sensor
anyone have any experience?