Product Review

Heart rate monitors (HR) work by measuring electrical signals in the heart to present results into how an individual's body reacts to training capacities, stress, and recovery. This can support the amendment of training strategies to augment performance and health (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). Observing athletic performance through HR enables targeted and effective training sessions. This is because the correct HR zone will ensure they train at an accurate level for session goals such as improving speed, endurance or advancing recovery rate (Anon, 2023). Chest-strap HRMs assemble 99% of accurate data as they use small electrode pads to collect electrical signals of the heart, it is also not influenced by ambient light. Therefore, using this technology is highly effective for athletes to improve sport performance, and alter their training methods to obtain a competitive benefit. A study by (Parak et al., 2021) determined the accuracy of a HR vest to a HR chest strap. The findings were that the HR monitoring for chest strap was better than HR vest, suggesting that chest straps supply high-quality statistics for coaching decisions in sporting settings

Strava is an app that allows athletes to connect with each other, attain motivation, explore new places, and track athletic journeys. "I use Strava so I can target some tough workouts," says Red Bull ultrarunner and current winner of the 101km CCC Tom Evans. "It shows me what shape I'm in throughout the year and I can see my development." It also records activity to assess performance with previous efforts such as a hill climb, complete sprint, off-road route etc, this permits the evaluation of performance and training (Hall, 2021). Strava also offers data analysis from recorded activity such as heart rate, speed, distance, elevation shift etc. This can allow coaches to observe athletic performance and create strategies to enhance player health. It can also encourage a sporting individual to assess the demands of competition in their sport to be successful (Jarvis and Westcott, 2021).  According to (Petersen et al., 2020) athlete activity behaviors were transformed due to COVID-19, however, activity data from Strava shown that professional athletes exercised for 92 minutes a day pre covid, and 103 minutes a day during Covid. This demonstrates the benefit of using Strava through tough times, as athletes were able to inspire each other on the app, to reach their personal bests and keep their coaches up to date with training tactics (McGuire, 2020).