The use of a smart-textile garment during high-intensity functional training: a pilot study

Wearable devices are common in the health and fitness industry and provide valuable information to improve and achieve fitness goals. The Hexoskin shirt (Hx) is one such device that has been shown to be valid and reliable. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the Hx to established methods during a maximal graded exercise test (TM) and a high-intensity functional training (HIFT) session.

Ten healthy individuals (31.0±7.6 years, 76.4±11.4 kg; 1.7±0.1 m) volunteered for this study and completed a TM and a HIFT exercise session. During both testing sessions, respiratory measures (respiratory rate [RR], and respiratory volume [RV]) were assessed using a portable metabolic system (Cosmed K4b2; K4), and heart rate (HR) was determined via ECG in a standard 12-lead configuration. The Hx was worn during both sessions.

During TM, a 4% difference was noted for HR during cool down, while exercising HR and RV, along with RR during cool down were all under 10%. During HIFT, HR at rest and cool down, as well as RR during exercise were less than 10%. The variation between technologies for the remaining variables ranged between 12.3-39.9% and 10.9-41.1% for TM and HIFT, respectively.

The Hx smart garment may be utilized to provide select cardiorespiratory data in a TM and HIFT session. We recommend that the validity and reliability be fully established before the Hx smart garment is entirely utilized for all cardiorespiratory data and research purposes in a field-based environment.