Frequently asked questions about the Cenli app
Connecting the sensors
Unable to connect to the sensor(s) the first time
To connect to the sensors, the app must be on the connection screen before a session.
1. Press Start Session and follow the steps until you are asked to connect the sensors.
2. Remove the sensors from the charging case and wait for them to connect. It is recommended to start by connecting the Cenli-HRV.
3. The first time the sensors are connected to a new device, the app will request a pairing code to ensure a secure Bluetooth connection between the app and the sensor.
NB: For the easiest possible handling and connection, we recommend that you connect both sensors before putting them on. The session will start automatically a few seconds after Cenli-HRV delivers measurements to the app (see next point).
Unable to connect to the sensor(s) or experiencing difficulties doing so
After the sensors have been turned on (either by removing them from the case or shaking them firmly), they will attempt to connect to the phone. The sensors will then flash a blue light.
If the sensors cannot find any connected devices, they will automatically turn off after a few minutes. When a sensor turns off, it will flash rapidly before turning off completely. To reconnect the sensor, you will need to turn it back on and continue the search from the app.
The session does not start after the sensors are connected
When the sensors are connected, they will have a constant blue light. Cenli-HRV will also light up red when you place your finger on it. When the sensor(s) for the session are connected, the session will start automatically shortly after Cenli-HRV lights up red and delivers measurements.
Troubleshooting: If the app says that Cenli-HRV is connected, but the sensor does not light up red when you place your finger on it, there may be a problem. This can occur if something is interfering with the Bluetooth connection, causing the app to malfunction. Try restarting the app by closing it completely ("kill app"). This is done by dragging the app up from the operating system's app menu. Then try starting a session.
What happens during a session?
How do I know what to do to influence my measurements?
Learning to change your body's autonomic patterns is no easy task and can take a long time. You should therefore expect that it may take some time before you see changes when using Cenli, and it is more important that you do biofeedback regularly than that you achieve good measurements. Here are some tips that have been shown to be effective in influencing measurements:
HRV:
- tried to test one technique over a slightly longer period
- follow the rhythm of the breathing ball
- have vibration enabled on your cell phone (set under My Profile)
- be left alone undisturbed
- Choose a breathing rate that feels comfortable, where you don't have to strain to breathe too fast or too slowly.
An initial goal could be to work on getting some nice, steady waves, then work on getting more of them. And if you manage to get nice, steady waves for a full ten minutes, then you're on the right track. Then you can work on trying to increase the height of the waves. Temperature:
- The goal is to get as close to 37 degrees as possible, so the closer you are, the better your score will be.
- When the body is stressed (in flight-fight mode), blood is drawn into the body and our fingers become cold. When we are relaxed (rest-and-digest mode), blood flows to the whole body, and this can be measured by looking at finger temperature. It is not necessarily the actual temperature that is most important, but rather that you achieve an increase from where you start, and this can be achieved regardless of the room temperature.
30-second calibration phase before the session starts
Each session starts with a 30-second calibration phase. During this period, only a breathing ball will be displayed. You can follow it if you want to "warm up" before the actual session begins. The measurements taken during the calibration phase are not used to calculate session results. It is important that the sensors are used during this phase in order to obtain the correct starting point for the session.
Do I have to follow the breathing ball, and does it affect my bonus points?
No, the breathing ball is only intended as an aid that you can use if you want to. Research shows that a frequency of 3-6 breaths per minute, with longer exhalations than inhalations, is beneficial for the vagus nerve and calms the nervous system.
Although your bonus points are not directly affected by following the breathing ball, a faster breathing rate may indirectly affect your points.
We recommend setting the frequency of the breathing ball in "Profile" --> "Biofeedback settings." Here you can also turn on vibration that follows the rhythm of the breathing ball as you inhale and exhale.
Interpretation of results
How is my score calculated?
Cenli calculates a score based on your measurements for the session. A weighted average of these scores is calculated as the total score for the session.
This is how the score is calculated:
- Temperature: Measurements as close to body temperature as possible result in higher scores. Low temperatures result in low scores.
- Muscle tension: The average of the measurements during the session is used. The lower the average, the higher the score.
- Heart rate variability: The measurements are transformed into a frequency band and divided into low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) frequencies. A higher proportion of LF measurements results in a higher score. A high proportion of HF measurements results in a lower score.
What do LF and HF mean?
LF means low frequency and HF means high frequency. The numbers are a mathematical transformation of a sine curve, enabling comparison of actual measurements against a sine curve over time.
What does it mean that my muscle activity is high, and what are "spikes"?
Cenli calculates a description of muscle activity based on the average measurement during the session.
The voltage in the sensor is measured in microvolts (mV). Low voltage values vary slightly from person to person, but are usually around (and below) 3 mV. All voltages measured by the EMG sensor above 8 mV indicate clear muscle activation and will be classified as "high."
A "spike" is simply a "peak" where the sensor has measured an elevated value.
Known issues
The sensor does not charge even though it is in the charger
When the sensors are charging, they will emit a steady blue light. The sensors should charge automatically when they are in the charging case and the charging case is connected to a power source. Ensure that the charger is connected to a power source using the USB cable provided.
The sensor may not be making proper contact with the pins in the case. Try cleaning the pins or pressing the sensor down onto the charger to test.
If the sensors still do not charge, please contact us at support@cenli.no.
My sessions are not showing up in the statistics
You can click on a point in the graph to bring up a list of sessions for that period. Sessions are only shown in the statistics when they are fully completed.
A bug has been reported where the transition to the new year causes sessions not to be displayed for the "transition week" (a week that starts in one year and ends in another). This error will be corrected when a new full week begins.
Other
How can I delete a session?
We are working on implementing this, and session deletion will be available shortly. Sessions cannot be deleted in the current app.
My question has not been answered.
Please contact us at support@cenli.no and we will assist you directly.
Suggestions for improvement?
Get in touch with us!
Please contact us directly at support@cenli.no! We greatly appreciate all feedback and are constantly striving to improve Cenli.