Accuracy of the SenseWear Armband Mini and the BodyMedia FIT in resistance training

ObjectivesTo examine the validity and reliability of the SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT in comparison to the Cosmed K4b2 portable for assessing energy expenditure during resistance training.DesignLab based validation and reliability study.MethodsEleven males and 7 females (age = 22.7 ± 4.5 years) completed two resistance-training sessions. Total energy expenditure was simultaneously assessed by the SenseWear Armband Mini, BodyMedia FIT and Cosmed K4b2 portable. The resistance-training sessions involved 3 sets of 10 repetitions for 9 different exercises. The weight lifted was 70% of the participants 1 repetition max with 90-s rest intervals. Validity and re-test reliability was assessed using Pearson correlations and mean change (%) ± 90% confidence limits and log transformed typical error measurements (TEMCV%).ResultsA very large correlation was identified for total energy expenditure (Kcal) from both the SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT in comparison to the Cosmed K4b2 portable (r = 0.77 and r = 0.78, respectively) and an almost perfect correlation was observed for total energy expenditure (Kcal) between the SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT (r = 0.97). A small percent mean change for the SenseWear Armband Mini (23.7%) and a trivial percent mean change for the BodyMedia FIT (13.8%) was observed in comparison to the Cosmed K4b2 portable with a tendency to underestimate total energy expenditure. The SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT displayed an almost perfect correlation for total energy expenditure (Kcal) between sessions (r = 0.96 and r = 0.97, respectively) whilst TEMCV% of 5.1 and 4.3, respectively were observed.ConclusionsThe SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT provide a valid and reliable measure of energy expenditure during resistance training. There was no significant difference in validity or reliability observed between the SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT.