Monitoring Energy Expenditure Using a Multi-Sensor Device-Applications and Limitations of the SenseWear Armband in Athletic Populations

Abstract

In order to monitor their energy requirements, athletes may desire to assess energy expenditure (EE) during training and competition. Recent technological advances and increased customer interest have created a market for wearable devices that measure physiological variables and bodily movement over prolonged time periods and convert this information into EE data. This mini-review provides an overview of the applicability of the SenseWear armband (SWA), which combines accelerometry with measurements of heat production and skin conductivity, to measure total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and its components such as exercise energy expenditure (ExEE) in athletic populations. While the SWA has been shown to provide valid estimates of EE in the general population, validation studies in athletic populations indicate a tendency toward underestimation of ExEE particularly during high-intensity exercise (>10 METs) with an increasing underestimation as exercise intensity increases. Although limited information is available on the accuracy of the SWA during resistance exercise, high-intensity interval exercise, or mixed exercise forms, there seems to be a similar trend of underestimating high levels of ExEE. The SWA, however, is capable of detecting movement patterns and metabolic measurements even at high exercise intensities, suggesting that underestimation may result from limitations in the proprietary algorithms. In addition, the SWA has been used in the assessment of sleep quantity and quality as well as non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Overall, the SWA provides viable information and remains to be used in various clinical and athletic settings, despite the termination of its commercial sale.

Keywords: accelerometry; energy balance; high-intensity exercise; measurement error; resistance exercise.

Figure 1

Distribution of publications including the search term “SenseWear” for the period from 2004 (first publication) to 2016 (last complete year); data source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ (Aug 14, 2017).

Figure 2

Previously published data reporting the discrepancy between energy expenditure measured with the SenseWear armband (black symbols) in comparison to the reference method (indirect calorimetry; open symbols) and the difference between SenseWear and indirect calorimetry (gray symbols). The dotted line depicts an exercise intensity of 35 mL/kg/min (10 METs). Data published by Drenowatz and Eisenmann (2011) stem from 20 male and female runners (VO_2peak: 57 mL/kg/min); Data published by Koehler et al. (2011) stem from 14 triathletes (VO_2peak: 58 mL/kg/min) who were assessed while running and biking; Data published by Koehler et al. (2013) stem from 19 endurance and strength trained men (VO_2peak: 55 mL/kg/min) who were assessed while running; Data from van Hoye et al. (2014) stem from 23 male kinesiology students (VO_2peak: 69 mL/kg/min) and 20 female kinesiology students (VO_2peak: 53 mL/kg/min) who were assessed while walking and running; Data published by Van Hoye et al. (2015) stem from 39 male and female kinesiology students (VO_2peak: 58 mL/kg/min) who were assessed while walking and running.