Is it possible to use the Polar Heart Rate Monitor while swimming or
while doing other water sports?
Yes it is but please refer to the classifications in the chart below.
The transmitter is completely waterproof and
the receiver is water resistant to 20, 30, 50 or 100 meters
depending on the model.
We recommend if
using the receivers in a water enviroment, that you should not press any buttons under water.
See user's manual for details.
Heart rate
measurement in a water environment is technically demanding for the
following reasons:
Pool water with a high chlorine (or bromine)
content, as well as seawater, may be very conductive and the
electrodes of a transmitter may get short circuited and ECG
signals cannot be detected by the transmitter unit.
Jumping into the water or strenuous muscle
movement during competitive swimming may cause water resistance
that shifts the transmitter on the body to a location where it is
not possible to pick up the ECG signal.
The ECG signal strength varies depending on
the individual's tissue composition. The percentage of people who
have problems in heart rate measuring is considerably higher in a
water environment than in other use.
In the
watch industry the water resistance is generally indicated as metres
of water pressure, meaning a static pressure of water at the level
in question. Polar applies the same indication system, as it is well
known and water resistance is an essential feature of the heart rate
monitor. Every Polar device having the water
resistance indication are tested to stand the water pressure before
the delivery.
However, it should be noted that when
performing any underwater activity, the dynamic pressure generated
by movement through the water is greater than the static pressure.
Water resistance of Polar products is tested according to International Standard ISO 2281. Products are divided into three different categories according to their water resistance. Check the water resistance category of your Polar product from the chart below. Please note that these definitions do not necessarily apply to products of other manufacturers.
