METROLOGICAL RELIABILITY OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES IN DETERMINING TRAINING LOAD OF ATHLETES WITH DIFFERENT QUALIFICATION LEVELS

Abstract

The article examines the metrological reliability of wearable technologies in determining the training load of athletes with different qualification levels. The relevance of the study is driven by the rapid implementation of digital sensor systems in sports practice and the need to ensure the reliability of the obtained data. The aim of the study is to assess the accuracy, repeatability, and validity of indicators recorded by wearable devices during physical activities of varying intensity. The study analyzes indicators of internal and external training load, including heart rate, heart rate variability, energy expenditure, and integral load indices. The comparison was carried out between data obtained from wearable devices and reference measurement methods. It was established that the accuracy of the indicators largely depends on the intensity of physical activity, the type of sensors, and the level of athletes’ fitness. The results show that highly qualified athletes demonstrate lower variability of indicators and higher data consistency, while less trained individuals exhibit increased measurement errors. The main sources of metrological errors were identified, including motion artifacts, individual physiological characteristics, and algorithmic limitations of devices. Additionally, it was found that different types of wearable devices demonstrate varying sensitivity to changes in physical load due to differences in sensor operation principles and data processing algorithms. It was determined that the use of an integrated approach to assessing training load, combining several indicators, improves the overall reliability of the results. The obtained results substantiate the feasibility of using wearable technologies in the training process, provided that their metrological characteristics are taken into account.