Which wrist should you wear a health band on?

It's one of the first questions people ask when a new band arrives: which wrist does it go on? Watches have traditionally sat on the left wrist, and some of us have strong feelings about it. With the Thrive Health Band, the good news is simple. You can wear it on your left or your right wrist, and you tell the Thrive app which one you've chosen.

Here is how to choose a wrist, how snug the Band should be, what to know about wearing it to bed and through your day, and how to set it up in the app.

Left or right: does it matter?

For the Thrive Health Band, either wrist works. What matters more is that the Band sits comfortably with steady contact against your skin, so the sensors underneath can take good readings day and night.

Once you've chosen, open the Thrive by Optihealth app and go to Settings. There's a setting that asks which wrist you're wearing your wearable on. Pick left or right, and change it any time you swap.

How to choose your wrist

There's no single right answer, but a few things can help you decide:

Your non-dominant hand moves a little less. Some prefer the wrist on their non-dominant side, because it bumps into fewer things during the day, from the desk to the kitchen bench.
What you do all day. If you work with your hands, lift, garden or play a sport where one arm takes the knocks, the other wrist may be more comfortable.
What else you wear. If you already wear a watch, bracelet or hair tie on one wrist, the Band will usually feel better on the other.
How you sleep. If you tend to sleep with one arm tucked under the pillow, you might find the other wrist more comfortable overnight.
Simple habit. If you've always worn a watch on one side, that side may simply feel normal.

If you're not sure, try a few days on each wrist and see which you forget about. The best wrist is the one you're happy to wear around the clock.

How snug should the Band be?

The Band should be snug enough that it doesn't slide around, with the sensors on the underside resting against your skin. It shouldn't pinch or leave deep marks. Sitting just above the wrist bone usually helps it stay put.

A few practical tips:

Snug, not tight. You should be able to wear it all day and night without thinking about it.
Loosen it a little for sleep if you like, as long as it stays in contact with your skin.
Give your skin a breather. Take the Band off now and then, keep the strap and your skin clean and dry, and swap wrists if one side feels irritated.
Check the fit after exercise. Wrists can swell a little in warm weather or after a workout, so you may want to adjust the strap.

The Thrive strap is light enough to forget about, and it comes in a range of colours.

Wearing it day and night

The more you wear the Band, the better Thrive gets to know what's usual for you. Wearing it overnight is how Thrive scores your sleep on Quantity, Quality, Regularity and Timing, and how it sees your overnight heart rate and HRV. During the day, it follows your steps, heart rate, stress and temperature.

With up to 14 days of battery, you won't need to take it off to charge often. The Band also has no screen, so there's nothing lighting up on your wrist at night or buzzing for attention during a meeting. If you do forget to put it back on, the app can send a reminder to your phone.

Some readings use the Band's electrode, which is the metal plate on top of the Band with the thrive wordmark. For these, you touch the plate with a fingertip from your other hand while the app walks you through the reading. The app currently asks you to wear the Band on your left wrist and use a finger from your right hand, so if you usually wear it on your right, swap it over for that reading.

What Thrive does with what you wear

The Band collects the signals; the Thrive by Optihealth app explains them. Thrive learns what is usual for you across nine areas of your health, from what the Band measures and what you log, and keeps track right across your health, including heart, temperature, stress and mood, meals and Food Fit, blood tests, medications and supplements and your medical history.

Today's Vitality brings Sleep & Recovery, Heart & Nervous System, Today's Load and Mind & Mood together in one daily view.
Recovery insights give an estimate of how long until you're back to your usual after a big day, such as "you need 5 hours rest".
Ask Thrive answers questions about your own data, such as "How has my sleep changed this month?"

If you'd like someone in your corner, Thrive Loops lets you share selected information with a participating trainer, health professional or someone you trust. You decide what to share and with whom, and you can change or revoke access at any time.

When to talk to your GP

If your skin under the strap stays red, itchy or sore after a break and a clean, or you notice a rash that doesn't settle, take the Band off and talk with your GP or pharmacist. And if anything in your readings or how you feel is worrying you, Thrive isn't a diagnosis, but Ask Thrive can help you get ready by lining up your recent trends, so you can describe what's been happening. Here is how to use Ask Thrive before a GP appointment.

Before you buy

You'll need a compatible iPhone or Android phone, because the Thrive app is on the Apple App Store and Google Play, in Australia and eight other countries. The app stores are only for downloading the app, though; they aren't where you buy the Band or a Plan. You can buy at thrivehealthband.com, or at a participating World Gym Australia location or health and wellness clinic.

The Thrive Health Band is A$660 for the first year under the launch offer. That includes the Band, which is yours to keep, and 12 months of the Thrive by Optihealth app, My Health on the web, Health Fingerprint, Ask Thrive, Thrive Loops and your data, paid once upfront. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Free Australia-wide shipping during the launch offer (usually A$14.99).

Nothing renews automatically. After your first year, you can get a new band plus 12 more months for A$660, or keep your band and renew the Thrive Connected Plan for A$240 a year, or A$29 a month with no lock-in.

You're also covered by a 12-month Thrive Care Warranty, and consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law always apply. See Returns if something is wrong with your purchase.

Common questions

Can I wear the Thrive Health Band on my right wrist?

Yes. You can wear it on either wrist day to day. For readings where you touch the Band, the app asks you to wear it on your left. Just tell the Thrive app which wrist you use in Settings.

Should a health band be tight or loose?

Snug but comfortable, so the sensors underneath stay against your skin without pinching.

Can I switch wrists?

Yes. Swap whenever you like, and update the wrist setting in the app when you do.

For more answers, see Questions.

Thrive is intended to support general health, fitness and wellbeing. It is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. If you're concerned about your health, talk to a qualified health professional.