The Best Wearable Devices for Cardiac Rehab Patients in 2025
If you’re recovering from a heart condition or participating in a cardiac rehab program, tracking your heart health safely is essential. Wearable technology—like smartwatches and fitness trackers—can help monitor your heart rate, detect irregular rhythms, and keep you on track with your exercise goals. But not all devices are created equal, especially for people with heart conditions.
Here’s an evidence-based guide to the best wearable devices for cardiac rehab patients, focusing on heart rate accuracy, arrhythmia detection, and clinical-grade monitoring.
Why Wearable Devices Can Help in Cardiac Rehab
Smart devices can:
Monitor heart rate during exercise to ensure you stay in your desired exercise zone
Detect irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation (AFib)
Track daily activity, sleep, and recovery
Share data with your healthcare provider for safer, more personalized care
Studies show that patients using wearable monitors in cardiac rehab improve exercise adherence and can catch early warning signs of heart problems (Kordi et al., 2022).
Devices Comparisons for Cardiac Rehab Patients
Not all wearable devices are created equal. Some offer clinical-grade ECG monitoring, while others focus on activity tracking or sleep. To help you make an informed choice, here’s a comparison of the leading wearable devices designed for heart patients, highlighting their heart rate accuracy, arrhythmia detection, battery life, and data-sharing capabilities.
Top Wearables for Heart Patients
1. Apple Watch Series 9 / Ultra 2
Why it’s great for heart patients:
FDA-cleared ECG for detecting AFib
Accurate heart rate monitoring during exercise and rest
Blood oxygen (SpO₂) monitoring and alerts for irregular rhythms
Works with Apple Health to share your data with doctors
Battery: 18–36 hours depending on model
Data Sharing: Integrates with Apple Health, exportable for clinicians Apple Watch (Series 9 / Ultra 2)
Best for: Tech-savvy patients who want detailed heart and fitness insights.
2. Withings ScanWatch
Why it’s great:
ECG / AFib: Clinically validated, FDA-cleared AFib detection
Clinically validated ECG and SpO₂ sensors (Garcia et al., 2020)
Continuous heart rate tracking
Heart Rate Accuracy: High, validated in studies
Lightweight, simple design with 30-day battery life
Data Sharing: Withings Health Mate app, shareable with providers
Best for: Older adults or patients who prefer a simple, easy-to-use device with long battery life
3. Fitbit Charge 6
Why it’s great:
FDA-cleared ECG for AFib detection
Tracks heart rate, activity, and sleep
Heart Rate Accuracy: Moderate to high; reliable at light to moderate intensity
Affordable and easy to use
Battery: Around 7 days
Data Sharing: Fitbit app, more limited clinician integration
Best for: Patients who want basic clinical-grade monitoring without a complex smartwatch.
4. Garmin Venu 3 / Forerunner 965
Why it’s great:
Accurate optical heart rate sensors (Nelson et al., 2021). Heart Rate Accuracy: High; validated optical sensors
AFib: No ECG or AFib detection
Tracks blood oxygen and exercise intensity
Safety features like fall detection
Battery: 5–10 days depending on use
Data Sharing: Garmin Connect platform, can export reports
Best for: Patients focused on exercise tracking, even though it doesn’t have ECG for arrhythmia detection.
5. BioSticker / BioIntelliSense
Why it’s great:
Medical-grade continuous ECG and heart rate monitoring
Detects arrhythmias and tracks heart rate variability
Data sharing: Clinician-facing dashboard for remote monitoring
Battery: 14+ days
Best for: High-risk patients needing close supervision or tele-rehab programs.
Choosing the Right Device for You
When picking a wearable for cardiac rehab, consider:
Heart rate accuracy: Must track reliably during exercise.
Arrhythmia detection: FDA-cleared ECGs are ideal for patients with AFib risk.
Ease of use: Lightweight, simple, and comfortable devices improve adherence.
Clinician integration: Ability to share data with your rehab team helps keep you safe.
Battery life: Long battery life reduces the chance of missing important data.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right wearable device can make cardiac rehabilitation safer and more effective. Devices like the Apple Watch, Withings ScanWatch, and BioSticker offer reliable heart rate monitoring and, in some cases, clinical-grade ECG tracking to detect irregular rhythms.
While each device has different strengths, the most important step is to discuss your options with your healthcare provider. Together, you can select a wearable that fits your lifestyle, keeps you safe, and helps you stay on track with your heart health goals. If this was helpful, see our blog about how to incorporate wearable devices in to your exercise program.
References
Kordi, R., et al. (2022). Telemonitoring and wearable devices in cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Garcia, L., et al. (2020). Clinical evaluation of a wearable ECG device for atrial fibrillation detection. Journal of Electrocardiology, 61, 50–57.
Nelson, B., et al. (2021). Accuracy of consumer wearable optical heart rate sensors during exercise: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(6), 611–624.
The information in the blog is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For questions please follow up with your healthcare professional.
