Elite HRV: Wellness & Fitness

Have used health trackers for a long time, such as Oura, Apple health, Fitbit, etc. After a recent trial of a program called Welltory, which seem to give consistently false and low measurements using Apple Watch I looked into more accurate solutions and found elite HRV. This program and using a chest has restored my faith in which programs are providing meaningful insights and whether their HRV scores were accurate. I’m getting much more accurate HRV readings, readings that are twice as high or more as what I was getting on my Oura and in Welltory. I’m starting to wonder if those devices have a limiting factor of the way there taking the readings at the wrist. Oura did much better than the other apps at giving a readiness score that seemed to match reality. Even if the HRV scores were not that accurate. Welltory despite following their instructions, consistently produced recommendations that were diametrically opposed to what my Oura ring would say and HRV scores that were less than half of what i amgetting in Elite HRV. Now that I’ve been using elite HRV for several days for me I can confirm that it was the Welltory app that was producing the faulty interpretation of results and that my HRV levels are in a great range and not abnormal vs wrist measurements on other devices. It could just be a fluke of my biology, or physiology but I’m glad to see the chest strap measurements confirmed as being the most accurate.

I find myself torn on this review. On one hand, it’s a well made, user friendly, intuitive app. It flows nicely and gives good usable metrics. On the other hand, it is relying on a 3rd party heart rate monitor. This is understandable, of course the phone it self is not going to do it for you accurately. But to not have support from the Apple Watch, that part boggles my mind. This is an Apple app after all. If I’m using something like a Whoop or similar fitness tracker, I wouldn’t need this app. If I’m not, I use a heart rate monitor that is put on just for the sake of checking my heart rate (when I am at rest none the less?). Other apps are able to use the watch for a accurate heart rate, I don’t understand why you are not able to figure out the same. I hope you are able to get there as this seems to be a nice app, but for me, it’s just not practical. Update: I have done significant reading on this subject since my original review. While I stand by my desire for Elite HRV to be compatible with Apple Watch, I see now how much research Elite HRV does and does not take this lightly.

The Elite HRV Podcast has a wealth of knowledge which will educate you about your HRV and it can put you on the path to many positive life changes. What I REALLY like is the Biofeedback tool that lets you follow Dr. Leah Lagos 10-week Breathing Program. Listen to the July and August 2020 podcasts with Dr. Leah Lagos and then do yourself a favor and purchase a copy of her book “Heart, Breath, Mind” and do the 10-week breathing program, you won’t be sorry. The Elite HRV app gives you all the tools you need to follow the program. I like the Elite HRV CorSense finger sensor for taking morning HRV readings as it is convenient to slip it on your finger as soon as you wake up. I do prefer a heart rate chest strap (I used the Polar H10 with some conductivity gel to ensure a good signal) for doing longer breathing sessions/measurements. The CorSense finger sensor is sensitive to cold hands, so I find I get a more accurate signal from the chest strap. But when I first wake up and my hands are warm and I want to take a quick morning HRV reading, you can’t beat the convenience of the CorSense finger sensor and I have no problems with the signal quality. Cheers!