Ideal Combinations of Acceleration-Based Intensity Metrics and Sensor Positions to Monitor Exercise Intensity under Different Types of Sports

This study quantified the strength of the relationship between the percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR) and two acceleration-based intensity metrics (AIMs) at three sensor-positions during three sport types (running, basketball, and badminton) under three intensity conditions (locomotion speeds). Fourteen participants (age: 24.9 ± 2.4 years) wore a chest strap HR monitor and placed three accelerometers at the left wrist (non-dominant), trunk, and right shank, respectively. The %HRR and two different AIMs (Player Load per minute [PL/min] and mean amplitude deviation [MAD]) during exercise were calculated. During running, both AIMs at the shank and PL at the wrist had strong correlations ( = 0.777-0.778) with %HRR; while other combinations were negligible to moderate ( = 0.065-0.451). For basketball, both AIMs at the shank had stronger correlations ( = 0.604-0.628) with %HRR than at wrist ( = 0.536-0.603) and trunk ( = 0.403-0.463) with %HRR. During badminton exercise, both AIMs at shank had stronger correlations ( = 0.782-0.793) with %HRR than those at wrist ( = 0.587-0.621) and MAD at trunk ( = 0.608) and trunk ( = 0.314). Wearing the sensor on the shank is an ideal position for both AIMs to monitor external intensity in running, basketball, and badminton, while the wrist and using PL-derived AIM seems to be the second ideal combination.