The Prevayl heart rate monitor demonstrated valid measurements when compared to ECG during incremental running, supported by strong correlations to ECG heart rate data at different speeds and with different analysis methods.
The Prevayl device demonstrated strong overall agreement with ECG for beat count across all participants.
Strong correlations were observed between ECG and Prevayl for both raw beat count and heart rate expressed in beats per minute.
Strong speed-dependent correlations between ECG and Prevayl were maintained across all running speeds tested (0–12 kph).
Bland-Altman analysis revealed negligible systematic bias between the Prevayl device and ECG.
The study validated the Prevayl e-textile-based wearable sensor as an accurate method for monitoring cardiovascular responses during incremental treadmill running.
This research suggests that the Prevayl smart garment, which uses electronic textiles (e-textiles) woven into clothing to measure heart rate, can accurately track heart rate during running exercise. Researchers tested 26 healthy adults who wore the Prevayl device while running on a treadmill at progressively faster speeds up to 12 kilometers per hour, and simultaneously measured their heart rate with a standard 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), which is considered the gold standard for heart rate measurement. The Prevayl device counted almost exactly the same number of heartbeats as the ECG (a median of 100.5%), and the two measurements correlated very strongly regardless of running speed. This research suggests that e-textile-based wearables like the Prevayl can provide reliable heart rate data during aerobic exercise, even as movement intensity increases. The statistical analyses, including Bland-Altman plots showing negligible systematic bias and Pearson correlation coefficients consistently above r = 0.82, indicate the device does not systematically over- or undercount heartbeats compared to ECG. This matters because motion artifact — interference caused by body movement — is a known challenge for wearable heart rate monitors during exercise. This research suggests that consumers, athletes, and potentially health professionals could use e-textile garments like the Prevayl as a practical, non-invasive, and relatively affordable alternative to clinical ECG for monitoring heart rate during running. However, the study was conducted on healthy adults only, and further research would be needed to assess performance in clinical populations or at higher exercise intensities.
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Upload Your LabsBurgess L, Armstrong M, Beresford L, Callaway A. (2026). A Speed-Dependent Assessment of E-Textile-Based Sensor Technology: Validity of the Prevayl Wearable Heart Rate Monitor.. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/s26113378