What effect does shivering motion artifact have on pulse oximetry readings?

Shivering motion artifact can significantly interfere with the accuracy of pulse oximetry readings. When a person is shivering, the movement can cause fluctuations in the photodetector's ability to detect the proportion of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. This motion makes it difficult for the sensor to accurately measure the light absorption characteristics of blood, which is essential for determining oxygen saturation levels.

As a result, shivering typically leads to falsely low readings on the pulse oximeter. The movement can disrupt the normal signal pattern that the device relies on, potentially misrepresenting the actual oxygen saturation levels. Proper blood flow to the extremities and stable positioning are crucial for accurate pulse oximetry, and any factor that disturbs this stability, such as shivering, can produce misleading results. Therefore, the correct understanding is that shivering induces motion artifacts that result in inaccurate, often lower pulse oximetry measurements.