Technology, man! It's the best when it works, but when it fails it's almost more annoying than not having it at all. For me, heart rate monitors are no exception.
However, using a heart rate sensor with PK Rewards will give you a real-time effort score as you workout, which is extremely valuable for anyone looking to improve their fitness game..plus, you earn more coins for your workouts, which is a no-brainer.
Over the years, I've learned quality care and little tricks with any heart rate monitor can go a long way, and can bring your workout experience from 'meh' to 'heck yeah'. So keep reading to learn how you can care for and enjoy your heart rate monitor to the fullest!
Choosing a Heart Rate Monitor
Electrical Technology vs. Optical Technology
There are a few different types of technology out there that can read your heart rate. Electrical technology tends to be most accurate and is commonly found in chest strap heart rate monitors. It reads the electrical signal from the pulse of your heart.
Optical technology, on the other hand, is what is found in the Apple Watch, Fitbit, and similar monitors. This technology uses a light to read blood flow data which helps the device generate a reading of your pulse. One downside of these monitors is because they work with light, they can have trouble getting a reading for individuals with lower body fat, or darker skin.
Bluetooth Technology
When looking for a monitor to pair with PK Rewards you will need a HR monitor that has Bluetooth technology. Without this technology, your HR monitor won’t be able to connect to your phone. What makes this connection special is that PK is able to receive information about your heart rate, and provide you with instant feedback on your effort during your workout!
Activity Type
Depending on your favorite activities, you may find that different monitors suit your needs! For example, a chest strap is great for general activities like running, walking, circuit/HIIT style workouts. I use the PK chest strap for all my workouts, and in general, it works pretty seamlessly for me. I also know some fans of the Wahoo chest strap, which is more expensive but comes with some neat features like memory, treadmill mode, cycling cadence, etc.
However, a chest strap might get in the way for a more intense activity like cross fit, jiu-jitsu, or other sports. For activities like these, I would suggest the Scosche Rhythm Arm Band which you can wear either on your upper arm or near your ankle. What makes it so great is that it’s made out of neoprene, a very pliable material. AND it’s not bulky or touchy like an Apple Watch or other wristwatch models that you might avoid wearing during sports. Because of its pliability, it also can fit very snugly unlike a lot of molded wrist wear accessories.
For water sports, many monitors are now water resistant. However, any monitor that is dependent on a Bluetooth connection with a phone/device will have trouble making that connection through the water. That’s why with swimming your best bet will be an option like the Apple Watch Series 2 ,3, or 4 which are waterproof and act both as the monitor and as the device hosting PK (thus no bluetooth signal is necessary).
Finally, Apple Watches are winners because they are a great option for those who highly value quick visual feedback throughout their workout and perfect for those who don't want to bring their phone along for their workouts.
Compatible with PK Fitness
Most Bluetooth HR Monitors are compatible with PK, although some popular fitness trackers are not. For example, Fitbit and Garmin have proprietary technology and do not share information with PK. However, importing your Fitbit and Garmin workouts into PK is an option. Simply head to your profile, and tap the plus (+) button to start adding workouts to your PK profile.
Getting the Best Monitor Connection
Bluetooth Turned On and Connected to Device
To ensure your HR monitor can connect to your phone/device, you will need to make sure that Bluetooth is turned on in your phone settings.
The simple steps for this are as follows:
#1) Go to Settings in the phone.
#2) Click on Bluetooth.
#3) Turn Bluetooth On.
#4) Wait for heart rate monitor to appear in Bluetooth.
#5) Tap on device to connect.
Monitor Not Connected to Any Other Apps or Sources
Sometimes your heart rate monitor might be connected to Bluetooth, but also connected to a different app. This would make the monitor unavailable to connect to PK. If you know what app it’s connected to, simply disconnect the monitor from within the other app. If this doesn’t work try closing out of the other app altogether. Then reopen PK, and try to connect the monitor again.
Directly on Skin
You will need to have your heart rate monitor directly on your skin to get a reading. For wrist monitors, attach the monitor a little further up the arm, out of the way of any bony protrusions. These little bones at your wrist might distort the position of the monitor.
For chest straps, make sure to tuck the monitor under any articles of clothing. Side note, ladies, rather than letting your chest strap compete with the edge of your sports bra, tuck it under the bottom edge to hold it in place.
Snug
Whatever monitor you’re wearing needs to be snug. If a chest strap or similar band isn’t snug it will slide around during your workout and have a harder time getting a heart rate reading.
If you’re wearing a monitor using optical technology, outside light might get in and mess with the light technology that’s trying to read your blood flow.
Turned On
Some monitors- like a chest strap- read your heart rate as soon as they’re touching your skin and can pick up a pulse. Whereas some wrist sensors may require you to push a button so that the device knows it’s looking for your heart rate.
Give it Time
It may take a little time for your heart rate monitor to find your pulse. This is actually pretty standard. I put my sensor on while I’m getting ready in the morning, or on with my outfit before I head to the gym so that it has some time to pick up on my heart rate, and is warmed up and ready to go once I’m ready to workout!
Moisture
This might sound a little weird, but a little moisture for an electrical heart rate monitor is actually a good thing (the optical monitors can sit this step out)! Usually, sweat will do the trick, but if you’re particularly dry, wet the back of your monitor with a drop or two of water before putting it back on to try again.
Fresh Battery
Batteries don’t last forever. With some monitors, you can recharge at night. With other monitors like the chest strap, you’ll have to replace the battery every so often. Sometimes when battery power gets low the connection starts getting a little iffy, this is a good reason to always have a fresh battery in your sensor!
A little tip for care with your chest strap if you have one- that battery that’s in the little sensor piece isn’t turned on unless it’s connected to the actual strap. Remove the sensor from the strap when you’re done working out to save the battery.
Good luck, and let me know any of your tips and tricks you’ve found to be helpful with your HR monitor in the comments below.