OpenHRV
A desktop application for heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training with Polar chest straps (H7, H9, H10).
Installation
Windows
Download OpenHRV.exe and run it, no installation required.
Linux, MacOS, Windows
Clone the repository and run app.py in a Python environment that contains the following dependencies:
- Python >= 3.10
- PySide6
- numpy
It is highly recommended to install these dependencies in a virtual environment, e.g., using conda or venv.
User Guide
Connect your ECG sensor
First make sure your Polar sensor (H7, H9, or H10) is paired with your computer
(i.e., find and pair the sensor in your computer's Bluetooth settings).
Then search the sensor in OpenHRV by clicking Scan. The addresses of all
paired Polar sensors show up in the drop-down menu. Select your sensor from the
drop-down menu and click Connect in order to establish a connection. You can
disconnect the sensor anytime by clicking Disconnect. Disconnecting is useful
if you want to connect to another sensor, or if an error occurs with the connection.
Should you have problems with the connection try disconnecting, and then reconnecting
the sensor.
Set an HRV target
You can personalize the HRV target using the Target slider. After you've
been training for a while you will have a good idea of what's an attainable target
for you (this can vary depending on how much sleep or coffee you had etc.). You
can adjust the target anytime if you find the current target too easy or difficult.
Set a breathing pace
The breathing pacer can help you increase your HRV. Breathe out as the blue
disk shrinks and breathe in as it gets larger. Explore how different breathing rates
affect your HRV by adjusting the Rate slider anytime during a session. Everyone
has a personal breathing rate at which their HRV is at its highest. Usually that
rate is somewhere between 4 and 7 breaths per minute. You can also hide the pacer
by unchecking the Show pacer box if you want to practice regulating HRV without pacing.
Biofeedback training
Below you can watch heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training in action. Note how the blue heart rate curve rises and falls. These fluctuations are the "variability" in HRV. Your goal is to get the fluctuations large and regular. As you get better at this, the white HRV curve will go up. There is no "ideal" HRV, as in "everyone should achieve an HRV of 500 msec". Try to increase HRV relative to what you have achieved before and be aware that it can take a fair bit of practice to improve.
