Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-hw7sx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-27T20:44:03.693Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparison of Polar® heart rate interval data with simultaneously recorded ECG signals in horses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2010

Matthew Parker ,
Deborah Goodwin ,
Rachael A Eager ,
Edward S Redhead  and
David J Marlin
Matthew Parker*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Deborah Goodwin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Rachael A Eager
Affiliation:
Division of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Edward S Redhead
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
David J Marlin
Affiliation:
Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK
*
*Corresponding author: mparker@rvc.ac.uk
Get access

Abstract

Human heart rate monitors (HRMs) are frequently used in equine studies to measure heart rate (HR) and interbeat intervals (IBIs). However, to date, the most commonly used HRM (the Polar® system) in horses has not been validated against simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during a range of ambulatory conditions. Polar® S810i and ECG IBIs were simultaneously recorded from six horses under three conditions commonly included in behavioural observation: standing at rest, loose in the stable and at liberty in a field. Following recording, Polar® IBI data were corrected for error processing in cardiac data. Corrected and uncorrected Polar® data were then compared with simultaneously recorded ECG data using a variety of commonly measured time and frequency domain parameters (e.g. HR variability (HRV)). Polar® data collected while horses were stabled or in the field were significantly different from ECG data, even following correction of the data, and therefore, it may not be possible for the two systems to be used interchangeably. This study indicates the need for caution while using Polar® S810i for collecting HRV data, unless horses are stationary, and even when the IBI data are corrected for measurement error.

Keywords

heart rateheart rate variabilityPolar®electrodeshorsesautonomic activityECG

Information

Type
Research Paper
Information
Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , November 2009 , pp. 137 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Footnotes

†

Current address: Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL7 9TA, UK.

‡

Current address: Hartpury College, Hartpury, Gloucester, UK.

References

1 von Borell, E, Langbein, J, Després, G, Hansen, S, Leterrier, C, Marchant-Forde, J et al. (2007). Heart rate variability as a measure of autonomic regulation of cardiac activity for assessing stress and welfare in farm animals – a review. Physiology and Behavior 92: 293–316.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2 Kingsley, M, Lewis, MJ and Marson, RE (2005). Comparison of polar 810s and an ambulatory ECG system for RR interval measurement during progressive exercise. International Journal of Sports Medicine 26: 39–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3 Gamelin, FX, Berthoin, S and Bosquet, L (2006). Validity of the Polar S810 heart rate monitor to measure R-R intervals at rest. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 38: 887–893.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4 Ninomiya, S, Sato, S, Kusunose, R, Mitumasu, T and Obara, Y (2007). A note on a behavioural indicator of satisfaction in stabled horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 106: 184–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5 Williams, TH, Friend, MJ, Toscano, MN, Collins, A and Nevill, CH (2002). The effects of early training sessions on the reactions of foals at 1, 2, and 3 months of age. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 77: 105–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6 Jezierski, T, Jaworski, Z and Górecka, A (1999). Effects of handling on behaviour and heart rate in Konik horses: comparison of stable and forest reared youngstock. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 62: 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7 Norman, SE, Eager, RA, Waran, NK, Jeffery, L, Schroter, RC and Marlin, DJ (2005). Recording of ECG signals on a portable MiniDisc recorder for time and frequency domain heart rate variability analysis. Physiology and Behaviour 83: 729–738.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Rietmann, TR, Stuart, AEA, Bernasconi, P, Stauffacher, M, Auer, JA and Weishaupt, MA (2004). Assessment of mental stress in warmblood horses: heart rate variability in comparison to heart rate and selected behavioural parameters. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 88: 121–136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9 Sloan, RP, Shapiro, PA, Bagiella, E, Boni, SM, Paik, M, Bigger, JT Jr et al. (1993). Effect of mental stress throughout the day on cardiac autonomic control. Biological Psychology 37: 89–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10 Visser, EK, van Reenen, CG, Schilder, MBH, Barneveld, A and Blokhuis, HJ (2003). Learning performances in young horses using two different learning tests. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 80: 311–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11 Stamp Dawkins, M (2006). Through animal eyes: what behaviour tells us. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 100: 4–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12 Goodwin, D (2007). Equine learning behaviour: what we know, what we don't and future research priorities. Behavioral Processes 76: 17–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13 Marchant-Forde, RM, Marlin, DJ and Marchant-Forde, JN (2004). Validation of a cardiac monitor for measuring heart rate variability in adult female pigs: accuracy, artefacts and editing. Physiology and Behavior 80: 449–458.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14 Minero, M, Zucca, D and Canali, E (2006). A note on novel stimulus and restrain by therapeutic riding horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 97: 335–342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15 Niskanen, J.-P., Tarvainen, MP, Ranta-aho, PO and Karjalainen, PA (2004). Software for advanced HRV analysis. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine 76: 73–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16 Cheung, MN (1981). Detection and recovery from errors in cardiac interbeat intervals. Psychophysiology 18: 341–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17 Bland, JM and Altman, DG (1991). Comparing methods of measurement: why plotting differences against a standard method is misleading. Lancet 346: 1085–1087.CrossRefGoogle Scholar