Pulse measurement using smartwatches, in-ears, etc.: These wearables provide the most accurate values

• In general, there is no one part of the body that is the appropriate part of the body. Which of them is suitable depends on the usage scenario.
• Pulse readings are most accurate in areas of the body that don’t have many different types of tissue and don’t move too much.
• Ear measurement is generally the most accurate, but it does come with some other problems.

Whether ordinary smartwatches, in-ear headphones, smartphones or smart rings: more and more devices offer the option of measuring heart rate in addition to their actual application scenario.

But not all pulse measurements are the same. How accurate the values ​​are sometimes depends heavily on which part of the body is being measured.

Measuring accuracy varies greatly depending on the body part

The human pulse can generally be measured at any part of the body where there is tissue with blood flow. Over time, however, seven measuring points in particular have become established: the ear, the forehead, the finger, the wrist, the calf, the upper arm and the ankle are parts of the body where common devices can be used to measure PPG (photoplethysmography, i.e. the use of light). can be measured.

Valencell, a company focused on digital health monitoring solutions, explains in an overview where the results are most accurate on the body and which properties ensure that heart rate measurements can be more or less accurate.

Places with little movement and a uniform structure are most suitable

The core findings: The measurement of the pulse is particularly accurate in those places where the measuring device experiences as little movement as possible (especially relative to the skin). It is also crucial whether there are many different types of tissue or only a few types of tissue (bones, tendons, muscle tissue, etc.) at the body site. In a relative comparison, the experts came to the conclusion that the ear provides the most accurate measurements.

Fingers are also a suitable place

The problem here, however, is that it is less socially accepted to permanently wear a device in your ear to measure your pulse. Application scenarios such as in-ear headphones during training, which only temporarily provide the most accurate data possible, come into question here. The situation is similar with the forehead, for which there are no mass-market wearables (with the exception of VR glasses, into which such a pulse measurement could be integrated).

The measurement on the finger is also particularly accurate: thanks to its high density of blood capillaries and the high blood flow rate, precise results are realistic here. Problems can only arise if blood circulation decreases, for example with age or in cold temperatures. This can be improved using algorithms that adapt the values ​​to low blood flow.

Wearables on the ear and smart rings measure particularly precisely

Interestingly, the wrist, which has become the most popular way to measure heart rate using a smartwatch, is more likely to be described as a place where it is difficult to accurately determine the pulse. Therefore, smart rings such as the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring with a heart rate measurement function and in-ear headphones, which also have corresponding sensors, are likely to provide the most accurate data.

• ” Tip: The best VPN providers for more security and data protection
• » Buy balcony power plant: Comparison of the best solar systems