Heart Rate Monitors 
The first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) was introduced in 1983 and since then many improvements have been made e.g.
- Coded transmission process (from chest strap to watch) to reduce interference with other HRMs
- Ability to capture large amounts of data
- Functions to aid with training e.g. high and low ranges for setting training zones
- Ability to download the captured data onto a computer and then analyse with special software
- Ability to determine your VO2 max
The use of an HRM to set exercise intensity is based on sound physiological principals - as the work increases, oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate increases in a linear relationship until near maximal intensities. Heart rate is easier to measure than oxygen consumption and the relationship between them has been established, however, there is one critical component - knowing your maximum heart rate.
Factors effecting Heart Rate
Many factors can alter your heart rate:
- Stress
- Illness
- Over training
- Medication
- Time of day
- Food and drink (Caffeine)
- Altitude
- Temperature
- Hydration levels
- Weather conditions
- Heart rate drift
- Heart rate variability
Heart rate drift is the increase in heart rate seen over time while exercising at a constant workload. Some studies have found that your heart rate can increase by as much as 5 to 20 bpm during exercise lasting 20 to 60 minutes even when the work rate does not change.
Heart rate variability describes the variations in the intervals between consecutive heartbeats. Even when the heart rate is stable, the time between consecutive beats can vary considerably. At rest, heart rate variability is larger in aerobically trained individuals than in untrained individuals.
Summary
The heart rate is a useful parameter for monitoring the reaction of the athlete's body to training and the HRM provides a convenient method for measuring and recording heart rate during exercise.
Heart rate, on its own, does not allow for an accurate assessment of the training effectiveness over time and cannot tell the coach or athlete which aspects of the training program are having a positive or negative influence on training adaptation.
Related Research Papers
- Exercise Testing and Interpretation, A Practical Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2001.
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SimplyRunThe UK Running, Sports Watch and Heart Rate Monitor Specialists. |
Associated Pages
The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:
- Articles on Ergogenic Aids
- Anaerobic Threshold Testing
- Ergogenic Aids
- Heart Rate Monitors
- Heart Rate Stress Tests
- Heart Rate Training Limitations
- Heart Rate Training Zones
- Maximum Heart Rate
Associated Books
The following books provide more information related to this topic:
- Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
- Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
- Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
- Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
- The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
- Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
- Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
- Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
- PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2