101053 Reliability of Self-Monitoring Heart Rate. Bess Kathrins*; P McGinnis; P Boyle; B Brooks; C Celso; R Ortleb; H Ujhely Physical Therapy, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ PURPOSE: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of self-monitoring heart rate (HR) at rest and during exercise in a well-adult population. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: Background: Reliable measurement of HR has long been considered an important indirect measure of the status of the cardiovascular system. For this reason, clinicians have often instructed patients/ clients to self-monitor HR, most commonly at rest. Patients/clients have then been told to exercise within a certain target HR range. Few reviewed studies addressed the reliability of self- monitoring resting HR and none addressed the reliability of self-monitoring HR during exercise. SUBJECTS: Subjects: First, to obtain valid instructions for self-monitoring HR, 4 novice volunteers were instructed in measuring resting HR using the 30-sec counting interval, the most reliable method as stated in the literature. After instruction, the novice volunteers obtained self-monitored HR readings within +/- 5 beats of the experienced instructors. For the reliability study, 22 well-adult subjects (17 female and 5 male), inexperienced at measuring HR, were selected to participate in the study from a sample of convenience. Mean age of the subjects was 21 + 1.6 yrs. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Methods: The day of testing, subjects were instructed on taking their resting radial HR using the 30-sec counting interval. After practicing, electrodes were placed on the subjects and connected to an electrocardiograph (EKG), the gold standard for measuring HR. Subjects self-monitored their resting HR every other min. for 6 min. while simultaneously monitored by EKG. In alternating starting order, subjects exercised for 6 min at low and 6 min at moderate intensities on the cycle ergometer, with self and EKG monitoring of HR every other minute. ANALYSES: Analysis: Data was analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), paired t-test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Results: ICC (3,3) comparing resting self-monitoring to EKG was .91, a strong correlation. ICC (3,3) comparing low and moderate intensity exercise to EKG was .46 and .64, respectively. Both were weak correlations. To compare differences between resting, low, and moderate intensity self-monitoring, the discrepancy between mean EKG and mean rest, low, and high intensity self-monitoring HR were calculated. Paired t-test was then used to compare differences. There were significant differences between resting and low intensity self-monitoring (p<.001) and resting and moderate intensity self-monitoring (p<.001). There were no significant differences between low and moderate intensities self-monitoring of HR. A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in order effect of exercise. A repeated measure ANOVA revealed no significant difference within subjects over time. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusion: Self-monitored resting HR was found to be reliable. With exercise at low and moderate intensity, there was weak correlation between EKG and self-monitored HR. No improvement was noted over time in subjects ability to reliably self-monitor HR. Implications: Though it has been common practice in the clinic, investigators theorized that instruction at rest did not translate into reliable self- monitoring of HR during exercise. Additional research on predictors for self-monitoring HR would foster greater insight into future patient/client instruction. FUNDING SOURCE: This study was partially funded through the Graduate Assistantship Program of Stockton College. Authors have no material gain as a result of the study. KEYWORDS: Reliability, heart rate Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.