Assessment of VO2 Max Reliability with Garmin Smart Watch among Swimmers

Abstract

Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2  max) is one of the important factors that influence swimming performance. Currently, the Garmin Forerunner Fitness Watch 935 used to measure VO2  max are expensive, require skilled-trained personnel, not feasible for large-scale use, and land-based, which will not be accurate in measuring water-based activity. In order to measure the swimming performance, there is a need for an affordable, feasible, and reliable device. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the intra- rater reliability of Garmin Forerunner Fitness Watch 935 accuracy in measuring the VO2  max among collegiate swimmers during the 200m swimming task. The VO2  max measurement of 10 collegiate swimmers was taken with Garmin Forerunner for two trials. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurements (SEMs), and Bland-Altman plot was used in the current study to establish  the inter-rater  reliability measurement. The intra-rater  reliability  of Garmin  Forerunner  showed high  reliability and accuracy with an intra-class correlation coefficient (2,1) of 0.869 and standard error of measurements of 0.231 ml/kg/min. Further, the results were strengthened with Bland-Altman plot showed an acceptable agreement between the two trials. The Garmin Forerunner would be a simple, objective and useful device to be used by physiotherapists, trainers and other sports-related disciplines to assess and improve the swimming performance by targeting the heart rate and VO2 max.