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Series 2 heart rate during workout?

M

mrochester

macrumors 603
Original poster
Feb 8, 2009
5,185
3,150
Hi all

Can anyone confirm if the series 2 Watch is supposed to take heart rate measurements constantly during a workout? I’ve just been running on the treadmill and every time I glanced at the watch the heart rate was greyed out as if there was no heart rate reading. The watch is quite tightly attached to my wrist.

Does anyone know what the problem might be?

Many thanks.

M.
 
mrochester said:
Hi all

Can anyone confirm if the series 2 Watch is supposed to take heart rate measurements constantly during a workout? I’ve just been running on the treadmill and every time I glanced at the watch the heart rate was greyed out as if there was no heart rate reading. The watch is quite tightly attached to my wrist.

Does anyone know what the problem might be?

Many thanks.

M.
Click to expand...
Typically the greyed out indicates the watch cannot capture a heart rate, normally because it is a bit too loose. If you hold your hand above your head, then down at your side and the watch moves, it is too loose. If the watch does not move, then it is perfect for exercise.

Could it be too tight? Silly question, but I had to ask. Normally I wear my watch at a setting for all day use, that tightness allows the watch to slide around a little bit. When exercising I tighten it one notch.
 
960design said:
Typically the greyed out indicates the watch cannot capture a heart rate, normally because it is a bit too loose. If you hold your hand above your head, then down at your side and the watch moves, it is too loose. If the watch does not move, then it is perfect for exercise.

Could it be too tight? Silly question, but I had to ask. Normally I wear my watch at a setting for all day use, that tightness allows the watch to slide around a little bit. When exercising I tighten it one notch.
Click to expand...

Watch definitely doesn’t move when I lift my arm up and down.
 
I have had mine lose the HR function while exercising. Usually removing the watch and wiping the back of it and my wrist corrects the issue.
 
Best to pair with a BT chest strap. Wrist based optical is hit or miss and results vary greatly depending on many factors.
 
Julien said:
Best to pair with a BT chest strap. Wrist based optical is hit or miss and results vary greatly depending on many factors.
Click to expand...
Disagree completely. Having been a wearer of HR chest straps for years (decade?), they really suck on long runs when it is hot out. The apple watch has completely changed my running, as I get great info without the chest strap. The watch also gets my HR with no issues on every run, bike and swim I do ( daily ).
 
960design said:
Disagree completely. Having been a wearer of HR chest straps for years (decade?), they really suck on long runs when it is hot out. The apple watch has completely changed my running, as I get great info without the chest strap. The watch also gets my HR with no issues on every run, bike and swim I do ( daily ).
Click to expand...
And your disagreeing and extensive personal experience helps the OP in what way?????

I also have extensive experience with chest strap HR monitors (Polar, Nike, Wahoo, Garmin, etc) and have been using 4 to 6x a week since circa 2002 and have spreadsheets (and detailed records) since Jun 2004 through yesterday. I also have been wearing the :apple:Watch everyday since launch day (yes I wear 2 watches working out). However my personal experience also doesn't help the OP situation. So here is what Apple says that DOES offer help to the OP.

Apple said:
...If you’re not able to get a consistent reading because of any of these factors, you can connect your Apple Watch wirelessly to external heart rate monitors such as Bluetooth chest straps...
Click to expand...
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207941#heartrate

Also some objective information about optical vs strap.

http://www.triathlete.com/2017/09/g...wrist-based-heart-rate-monitors-better_305917
 
Last edited:
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Julien said:
And your disagreeing and extensive personal experience helps the OP in what way?????
Click to expand...
I'm sorry Julien. Let me completely go off topic to reply to your query.

I disagree with you that the OP needs to purchase another product and bluetooth sync it in order to have a proper HR monitored. The Apple Watch is used by medical studies around the world to monitor heart arrhythmias. It is without a doubt the most uncumbersome way to monitor a heart rate over a long period of time and excels at heart rate detection during workouts. Chest strap to monitor heart rate is probably the worst bit of advice for an athlete in 2017, not to mention the casual user. ( do you like the scar? me neither )

http://www.triathlete.com/2017/09/g...wrist-based-heart-rate-monitors-better_305917
Click to expand...
Please read your links before posting as a pundit. This Wisconsin study only used Fitbit, Basis and Mio as the wrist worn HR device. FitBit is not in the same league for HR detection as the Apple Watch.

Please forgive me OP for sidetracking the conversation.

However my personal experience also doesn't help the OP situation. So here is what Apple says that DOES offer help to the OP.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207941#heartrate
Click to expand...
Now that is excellent advice.
 
Last edited:
It's not necessary to have another product, but for most accurate and consistent readings a separate sensor paired to the watch is best. I use a Scosche Rythm Plus on my other forearm and I've tested it against a couple chest straps and found it to be identical.

For best results with the watch sensor, shave a patch, wear it a notch tighter, and wear a wrist sweat band right above the watch on the forearm.
 
A tight band can restrict blood flow as can do cold weather. Also if you move your arms severely during your run it’s hard for your watch to pick up a steady signal.

Simply put movement and temperature are to be considered.
 
Make sure you don't have your watch in Power Saving mode. This will turn off the continuous HR sensor during a workout.

From time to time, my AW will lose the HR sensor during a run/workout. When that happens, I generally look underneath to make sure the green lights are on. Then I'll move it around on my wrist to wipe the sweat away and hope/pray that the HR reading comes back.
 
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0ZRAcvSSRuMHwE7NszffhIlyg#Image

Please see image above. As you can see, the Watch is able to fairly reliably track my heart rate initially, but then it suddenly drops significantly (this is when I started running) and then there’s a huge gap when I was walking again followed by another very low heart rate (when I was running again) followed by normal tracking to finish when I was walking again.

The watch is tight and secure on my wrist.
 
mrochester said:
Here’s tonight’s walk on the treadmill.

https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0Uc-JjEFHe9p_BqV75LLGQrxw#Image_2
Click to expand...

Am I meant to understand that your HR goes into the 150's when simply walking??? If that's accurate that indicates to me that you are severely out of shape which I only bring up because it could be something to consider when determining cause.

With that aside, I have a few thoughts/tips. Aside from a snug (but not too snug) fit, I would suggest sliding the watch up your wrist an inch or 2. Additionally try to keep your hand relaxed; tension in your wrist (especially if you are grabbing a side bar) can effect measurement on optical sensors. If there are any tattoos in that area, it could be a concern. Lastly excessive sweating could potentially be causing an issue, but I don't really have a good recommendation for that.

If you continue to have the same issue, it really would be best to try a chest strap. Perhaps there may be a unique situation with your Heart/blood pressure/etc that causes difficulty with optical sensors when your HR is extremely elevated (again could be related to your fitness level).
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
Am I meant to understand that your HR goes into the 150's when simply walking??? If that's accurate that indicates to me that you are severely out of shape which I only bring up because it could be something to consider when determining cause.

With that aside, I have a few thoughts/tips. Aside from a snug (but not too snug) fit, I would suggest sliding the watch up your wrist an inch or 2. Additionally try to keep your hand relaxed; tension in your wrist (especially if you are grabbing a side bar) can effect measurement on optical sensors. If there are any tattoos in that area, it could be a concern. Lastly excessive sweating could potentially be causing an issue, but I don't really have a good recommendation for that.

If you continue to have the same issue, it really would be best to try a chest strap. Perhaps there may be a unique situation with your Heart/blood pressure/etc that causes difficulty with optical sensors when your HR is extremely elevated (again could be related to your fitness level).
Click to expand...

Haha yes it does reach that level when walking, but that is a 4.35mph walk at maximum incline on the treadmill.

No tattoos etc. I’ll try the watch higher up but I can only assume it’ll slide down to the thinner part of my wrist where it usually sits. I sweat a lot, but that’s normal!
 
Have you tried wearing the AW on the inside of your wrist, right against the vein? That might allow for a better heart rate reading.
 
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