Elizabeth A. Tanner

Validation of Hexoskin biometric shirt to COSMED K4 b2 metabolic unit in adults during trail running

Abstract Wearable biometric technology use has increased in recent years. The Hexoskin biometric shirt is a wearable technology that monitors heart rate (HR), ventilatory rate (VR), minute ventilation (VE), step count, and energy expenditure (EE). It is unknown whether the Hexoskin biometric shirt produces valid results in the field. Participants (N = 26) completed a self-paced 1.6 km trail run wearing the Hexoskin biometric shirt and the COSMED K4 b2 portable metabolic system. Data for HR, VR, and VE were analyzed in six one-minute increments occurring the first three minutes and the last three minutes of the run. Data for step count and energy expenditure were analyzed for the entire trail run. HR, VR, VE, step count, and EE data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation with significance at p < .05. HR, VE, step count, and EE measures at all time points were not significantly correlated. VR measures at all time points were significantly correlated (p < .001). Our results indicate the Hexoskin biometric shirt provides valid measures of VR. For all other measures, the Hexoskin does not provide valid real time results.