This dataset contains all relevant experimental datasets that were collected for Tunde Geher-Herczegh's PhD thesis 'A study of chemical-mechanical coupling in Belousov-Zhabotinsky self-oscillating hydrogels, towards the physical-chemical model of the heart', in the form of time-lapse image sequences of Belousov-Zhabotinsky self-oscillating hydrogels under cyclic mechanical compressions. 131 time-lapse series are included here that were captured by a USB microscope camera, in order to observe the time-dependent colour and size change of BZ hydrogels, while they were subjected to regular mechanical stimuli, i.e. cyclic compressions at various frequencies. Gel pieces of various sizes and geometries were tested in different catalyst-free BZ solutions, e.g. by changing the reactant concentrations, introducing additional salts, etc.