Reliability and Validation of the Hexoskin Wearable Bio-Collection Device During Walking Conditions

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Wearable Technology
• Physiological Monitoring

Background:

• Smart shirts offer continuous physiological monitoring for athletes and medical applications.
• Validating wearable sensor accuracy against established methods is crucial for reliable data collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the validity and reliability of the Hexoskin smart shirt (HxS) for measuring heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (V_E), step count (SC), and energy expenditure (EE).
• To compare HxS measurements against gold-standard equipment during a controlled walking protocol.

Main Methods:

• A two-day walking treadmill protocol was conducted with 49 participants at speeds of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 mph.
• HxS data was compared to a Polar T-31 heart rate monitor, an Applied Electrochemistry Moxus Metabolic System, and manual step counts.
• Validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation (r ≥ 0.70), and reliability using Cronbach's alpha (α ≥ 0.70).

Main Results:

• HxS demonstrated valid and reliable measurements for HR and RR across all tested speeds.
• V_E, SC, and EE showed mixed results, with accuracy varying significantly based on walking speed.
• Specifically, HxS HR showed high correlation (r=0.86) and reliability (α=0.86) at 1.5 mph, while EE showed moderate correlation (r=0.56) and reliability (α=0.85) at the same speed.

Conclusions:

• The Hexoskin smart shirt is a valid and reliable tool for measuring heart rate and respiratory rate during walking.
• Further research is needed to improve the accuracy of V_E, SC, and EE measurements at different speeds for broader applications.
• These findings are significant for optimizing the use of Hexoskin in athletic training, coaching, and telemedicine.