How to perform the Quick Recovery Test with the Firstbeat Sports: Coach app

What is the QRT?
Standardized testing routines ensure reliable test results
Performing the QRT in the Firstbeat Sports: Coach app
Syncing results to the Firstbeat Sports Cloud

Quick Recovery Test

What is the QRT?

The Quick Recovery Test (QRT) is a three-minute test that helps to evaluate your athlete's recovery status and readiness before training/practice.

It is possible to conduct tests for the whole team at the same time (Coach app*) or an individual athlete can use their mobile phone device to perform the test on their own (Athlete app). Additional instructions for athletes can be found here.

*Firstbeat Sports Premium, Premium+

Please note: The Firstbeat Sports Sensor Firmware version 2.0 or newer must be installed to conduct QRTs. Sensor update instructions are available here.

Standardized testing routines ensure reliable test results

• Repeat regularely and consistently: Each test should be performed using standardized protocols such as a consistent (the same) time before training or game activities.

• Preparation:

  • It is recommended to avoid physical activity, caffeine, and (heavy) meals before the test.

  • Testing environment should ideally be calm and athlete in a relaxed state.

Please monitor the data quality during the test. This helps you to spot if there are any problems with data quality and fix possible problems early. If the test indicates poor data quality often, or for a long time, during the test please check whether the HR strap is attached correctly. Stop and restart the test if necessary.

 

The first test is to acquire a baseline. The second test shows the results. What does that mean?

 

The user is notified if there is baseline information for the athlete that needs to be updated to the Sensor before a QRT can start. In this case, please click the blue update icon to update the Sensor profile.

Performing the QRT in the Firstbeat Sports: Coach app

Once an athlete is wearing a Firstbeat Sports Sensor and the Sensor is recording, you are ready to start.

• Select the Quick Recovery view.

• Follow the instructions shown on the screen.

• It is possible to start a QRT for all athletes simultaneously (a), or one by one (b).

  • a) Select START ALL to start QRT for all athletes. If the QRT is already in progress for some athletes, selecting “Start All” does not restart the test for them.

  • b) Press the green heart icon to start QRT for an individual athlete.

• Starting a QRT starts a five-second timer. When the timer reaches zero, the three-minute measurement starts. The progress bar and timer show the time remaining.

• The QRT result is visible in the Coach app immediately after the test is completed. Color-coded feedback is provided in the app.

Info: It is possible to stop the test by pressing the red stop button on the right side next to each athlete ‘row’. If you stop a test, you must restart it from the beginning. You can also redo a completed test. 

 

QRT results give you immediate on-screen feedback on athlete readiness for more informed coaching decisions and training plan validation.

There are four categories for the results:

• 0-30 Poor: Recommended to conduct an Overnight Recovery Test to confirm the athlete’s recovery status, and to make adjustments to their training program.

• 30-70 Moderate: For moderate results, also check historic recovery progress data in the Firstbeat Sports Cloud. Athletes with decreasing recovery trends should be observed.

• 70-90 Good: Training can continue as normal.

• 90-100 Excellent: Training can continue as normal.

When interpreting recovery results, it is more important to observe trends than individual results. For more information on the QRT, please check our Learning Center here.

 

Syncing results to the Firstbeat Sports Cloud

QRT results are not automatically available in the Sports Cloud after a test is completed. Data needs to be downloaded from the Sensor and synced to the Cloud.

Additional instructions can be found here.

Additional information

• It is possible to perform the QRT again within a short time frame. In case there are two results for the same day, the better (higher QRT score) is shown in the Firstbeat Sports Cloud.

• The Quick Recovery Test result is calculated instantly by the Firstbeat Sports Sensor. The calculation is based on the history data stored in the Firstbeat Sports Cloud. For this reason, athlete profile history data (including possible previous QRT results) and latest QRT results are synced between the Sports Cloud and Athlete/Coach apps.

• If your app is offline for a long time, syncing and scaling of QRT results is not possible. This is not a problem if there are no other devices being used to conduct QRTs. When there are, QRT results history might change slightly when data is synced. In most cases, changes are minor.