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New Heart Rate Belt
- Thread starter Hatul
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OP
Hatul
Contributor
I think calling it voodoo science is overstating your point. There is some evidence and discussion about the effects of increased workload and hypothermia at the end of the dive on decompression. Here's one DAN discussion:
Chapter 5: Factors Contributing to Decompression Stress
Many factors can play a role in your outcome if you have a possibility of DCS. This chapter outlines several common risk factors.
dan.org
There are others. The hypothermia and high workload will only make the algorithm more conservative and decrease the no deco times, and you can control the degree of effect.
Does the voodoo algorithm also include the myriad other contributing factors in their calculations? Effectiveness of lungs, individual fitness, individual cardio-vascular efficiency, monitoring exhaled CO2, etc., etc....
No.
It is voodoo because it is not based on open peer reviewed evidence-based science.
It's just a voodoo marketing gimmick that is no better than any other algorithm; it is worse as it implies that it is better yet there is no evidence.
No.
It is voodoo because it is not based on open peer reviewed evidence-based science.
It's just a voodoo marketing gimmick that is no better than any other algorithm; it is worse as it implies that it is better yet there is no evidence.
Blackcrusader
Contributor
If I want to know my heart rate on a dive I have a couple of nice veins in my wrist I touch and count. But I go diving to relax and my heart rate slows to less than 60bpm, and my breathing slows as well. I've never considered if my heart rate would affect my decompression as I tend to move slowly or let the currents carry me around. Not sure if makes any difference when I choose some dives to spend the first half of the dive heading into a current and then returning with the current. Diving should not be a sport where one is getting heart rates of 160 bpm.
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I think calling it voodoo science is overstating your point. There is some evidence and discussion about the effects of increased workload and hypothermia at the end of the dive on decompression. Here's one DAN discussion:
Chapter 5: Factors Contributing to Decompression Stress
Many factors can play a role in your outcome if you have a possibility of DCS. This chapter outlines several common risk factors.
There are others. The hypothermia and high workload will only make the algorithm more conservative and decrease the no deco times, and you can control the degree of effect.
It's voodoo science.
While there may be a correlation between workload and decompression stress, they have not done enough studies to actually quantify it to make changes to a decompression algorithm. Sure it's pretty logical to say that under high workload when you have more blood flow and muscle activity that are causing faster exchanges of gas and an increased temperature in that area that gas exchange will be more rapid. Note that I said gas exchange though because it works both ways and we are encouraged when on deco to stay moving to keep blood moving instead of sitting still.
The thermal issue has been proven in research studies but not enough to quantify a change to the algorithm. They showed that warm generally means faster gas exchange cold generally means slower gas exchange but skin temperature is a very small part of it, especially when you combine it with the workload that can be generating heat in other areas of the body but not necessarily on your sternum.
Show me a peer reviewed analysis and I'll go buy one today, but if they don't publish, it's snakeoil.
OP
Hatul
Contributor
I just want to update with my experience with the new digital HR strap. The first 4 dives I was getting readings with a few cutouts-- short periods of 0 readings. I recalled my experience with Polar strap for my watch which showed the same behavior when the battery was low, so I changed the battery on the Scubapro strap, and so far I've had reliable readings. I still don't use the option to couple the HR to the algorithm, but I can see and review my heart rate through the dive.
I think it's a useful bit of information as cardiac ischemia is often associated with rapid heart rates. If you're an older diver I think it's really useful.
I think it's a useful bit of information as cardiac ischemia is often associated with rapid heart rates. If you're an older diver I think it's really useful.
OP
Hatul
Contributor
I may try that once I'm more confident the HR is dependable, at a low level of coupling. I still remember the bad experience we've had with the old monitor when the diver had the G2 go into SOS mode because of artifact and when I found my NDL changing because of artifact from the old monitor.
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