Heart Rate Reserve
Revision as of 18:23, 9 April 2012 by User:Fellrnr (User talk:Fellrnr | contribs)
Revision as of 18:23, 9 April 2012 by User:Fellrnr (User talk:Fellrnr | contribs)
A simplified chart of heart rate against exercise intensity showing Maximum Heart Rate, Heart Rate Reserve, Resting Heart Rate and Heart Rate Deflection.
Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) is the difference between your Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax) and Resting Heart Rate (HRrest). Exercise intensity can be evaluated by comparing your heart rate as a percentage of HRR.
1 Calculating Heart Rate Reserve
The calculation to work out %HRR is (HRex – HRrest)/(HRmax – HRrest), where HRex is the exercise Heart Rate. For example a HRmax of 180, a HRrest of 40 and HRex of 140 would be (140 – 40)/(180 – 40), which is 71%.
2 Why %HRR rather than %HRmax
Using %HRR is better than a percentage of HRmax. as it reflects the relative intensity more accurately. For example, if two athletes both have a HRmax of 180, but one has a HRrest of 40 and the other 70, at HRex of 140would be same %HRmax, but one is at 64 %HRR and the other is at 71 %HRR.