Introduction
16
1.2.
Heart Rate Monitoring
This section provides basic concepts of heart rate monitoring
so you can better understand how to use it to reach the fitness
level you desire.
1.2.1. What is exercise intensity?
Exercise intensity is simply a measure of how hard you are
working at a given time during exercise. The ACSM, the world’s
leading medical and scientific authority on sports medicine and
fitness, recommends that every individual involved in an
exercise program know how hard his/her body is working
during exercise.
Your heart provides key information for determining how
intensely you are working during exercise. Your heart rate (how
many times your heart beats per minute) is really an efficiency
rating for your entire body. The number of times your heart
beats during each minute of exercise is a measurement of the
intensity of the exercise. If your heart rate is low, exercise
intensity is low; if your heart rate is high, your exercise intensity
is high.
1.2.2. What is maximum heart rate?
Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) is the maximum attainable heart
rate your body can reach before total exhaustion. True
maximum heart rate is measured during a fatigue or “stress”
test. This test must be done in a clinical setting and is not
practical or accessible for most people.
Your maximum heart rate can be established with a high
degree of accuracy using the following simple formula:
Estimated Maximum Heart Rate = 220 minus your age.
WARNING
The use of this formula assumes no
underlying heart or respiratory disease or
other condition, which could be adversely
affected by exercise. Consult your doctor
before using this chart!
