Wearables · Health metrics
Recovery and readiness scores
Recovery and readiness scores combine signals like HRV, resting heart rate, sleep and temperature. How they work, why each brand differs, and how to use them sensibly.
Written by LON6EVITY Editorial Team · Last updated
What these scores are
Recovery or readiness scores are proprietary summaries created by device makers. They typically combine heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep and sometimes body temperature and recent activity into one number.
Examples
Oura's Readiness Score uses contributors such as resting heart rate, HRV, body temperature, sleep and activity balance. Garmin's Body Battery estimates energy reserves using HRV, stress, sleep and activity data.
How to use them
These scores can be a helpful prompt to rest or train, but they are not validated medical measurements, and algorithms differ between brands. The underlying signals — especially trends in resting heart rate and HRV — are more transparent.
Limitations
Wearable readings are estimates designed mainly for wellness and fitness. Accuracy varies by device, fit, skin, movement and model. They do not diagnose conditions; discuss concerning or persistent changes with a clinician.
Factors that can affect the result
- Sleep
- Training load
- Alcohol
- Illness
- Stress
Questions people commonly ask
- Should I skip training on a low recovery score?
- Consider how you feel. A low score with symptoms of illness is a good reason to rest.
- Why do two devices give different scores?
- Each brand uses its own algorithm and inputs.
Related topics
Bring your health data together
What does this mean for your own health data? Log your results, follow trends over time and bring an organised summary to your next doctor's appointment.
Sources
- An Overview of Heart Rate Variability Metrics and Norms. Shaffer F, Ginsberg JP, Front Public Health, 2017.
- Readiness Score. Oura Member Care.
- Body Battery energy monitoring. Garmin.