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Created page with "Orthostatic Heart Rate is the difference between Resting Heart Rate taken when lying down and Heart Rate when standing. The test measures how the heart responds to the ad..."
Orthostatic Heart Rate is the difference between [[Resting Heart Rate]] taken when lying down and [[Heart Rate]] when standing. The test measures how the heart responds to the added stress of standing up, which requires the heart to pump against gravity. The Orthostatic Heart Rate is sometimes considered a [[Overtraining Syndrome Symptoms|Symptom of Overtraining Syndrome]].
=Performing the Orthostatic Heart Rate Test=
There are wide variations<ref name="OhInconst"/> in the details of how to perform this test, so the following is based on a research study that compared different approaches to determine the optimal solution<ref name="OhComp"/>.
* For monitoring [[Overtraining Syndrome]], the test should be performed in the same way and under the same conditions each day.
* This test is normally performed on waking in the morning. If performed at other times, avoid things that change [Heart Rate]] such as exercise, stress or [[Caffeine]] before the test.
* Taking the [[Heart Rate]] reading should be done in such a way that it requires no effort on the part of the subject. A [[Heart Rate Monitor]] is ideal, and a [[Pulse Oximeter]] works well.
* The [[Resting Heart Rate]] should be taken after lying down for at least 5 minutes, preferably 10 minutes<ref name="OhComp"/>. Lying down for longer is not required, but it is also not a problem.
* Stand up gently and remain still for 2 minutes before taking a second [[Heart Rate]] reading<ref name="OhComp"/>.
* The difference between the two readings is the Orthostatic Heart Rate.
=What does the Orthostatic Heart Rate Test detect?=
A high Orthostatic Heart Rate has been suggested as a symptom of [[Overtraining Syndrome]], but it can also be caused by a viral infection, diabetes mellitus, as well as autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders <ref name="OhRef"/>. There seems to be little evidence to support the Orthostatic Heart Rate Test as a reliable method of predicting or detecting [[Overtraining Syndrome]]. However, this test is generally easy to perform and may be useful when considered as one possible indicator that can be factored in.
=What does the number mean?=
An Orthostatic Heart Rate rise of 30 BPM or more is a sign of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (see below) and would indicate that a medical evaluation is appropriate. For detecting [[Overtraining Syndrome]] it is an increase in the size of the rise, based on an established baseline. That makes it tough to use this test for suspected [[Overtraining Syndrome]] unless there is a history of measurement that can be used for comparison. It has been suggested that an Orthostatic Heart Rate rise of 10-15 BPM is considered 'normal', and an increase of 5 BPM over baseline is indicative of [[Overtraining Syndrome]].
=Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome=
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is the Orthostatic Heart Rate is more than a 30 BPM rise, or the standing Heart Rate is greater than 120 BPM<ref name="Pots"/>. People with POTS have problems with lightheadedness or fainting when standing up.
=Polar OwnOptimizer=
Some Polar [[Heart Rate Monitors]] include a version of the Orthostatic Heart Rate called OwnOptimizer<ref name="PolarOwn"/>. This test uses other [[Heart Rate]] parameters, such as [[Heart Rate Variability]] to indicate [[Overtraining Syndrome]]. There is some limited scientific evidence that the Polar test can detect intense training<ref name="PolarOTScience"/>, but there is no evidence that is predicts or detects [[Overtraining Syndrome]].
=References=
<references>
<ref name="PolarOTScience"> http://www.polar.fi/en/about_polar/who_we_are/research/overtraining_test </ref>
<ref name="Pots">Postural Tachycardia Syndrome Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm </ref>
<ref name="OhInconst">Medscape Log In http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474822_2 </ref>
<ref name="OhComp">Comparison of different methods of obtaining o... [Clin Nurs Res. 2000] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11881701 </ref>
<ref name="OhRef">Orthostatic heart rate and blood pressure in ... [J Child Neurol. 2010] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20197269 </ref>
<ref name="PolarOwn"> http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/support/OwnOptimizer?product_id=7881&category=tips </ref>
</references>
=Performing the Orthostatic Heart Rate Test=
There are wide variations<ref name="OhInconst"/> in the details of how to perform this test, so the following is based on a research study that compared different approaches to determine the optimal solution<ref name="OhComp"/>.
* For monitoring [[Overtraining Syndrome]], the test should be performed in the same way and under the same conditions each day.
* This test is normally performed on waking in the morning. If performed at other times, avoid things that change [Heart Rate]] such as exercise, stress or [[Caffeine]] before the test.
* Taking the [[Heart Rate]] reading should be done in such a way that it requires no effort on the part of the subject. A [[Heart Rate Monitor]] is ideal, and a [[Pulse Oximeter]] works well.
* The [[Resting Heart Rate]] should be taken after lying down for at least 5 minutes, preferably 10 minutes<ref name="OhComp"/>. Lying down for longer is not required, but it is also not a problem.
* Stand up gently and remain still for 2 minutes before taking a second [[Heart Rate]] reading<ref name="OhComp"/>.
* The difference between the two readings is the Orthostatic Heart Rate.
=What does the Orthostatic Heart Rate Test detect?=
A high Orthostatic Heart Rate has been suggested as a symptom of [[Overtraining Syndrome]], but it can also be caused by a viral infection, diabetes mellitus, as well as autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders <ref name="OhRef"/>. There seems to be little evidence to support the Orthostatic Heart Rate Test as a reliable method of predicting or detecting [[Overtraining Syndrome]]. However, this test is generally easy to perform and may be useful when considered as one possible indicator that can be factored in.
=What does the number mean?=
An Orthostatic Heart Rate rise of 30 BPM or more is a sign of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (see below) and would indicate that a medical evaluation is appropriate. For detecting [[Overtraining Syndrome]] it is an increase in the size of the rise, based on an established baseline. That makes it tough to use this test for suspected [[Overtraining Syndrome]] unless there is a history of measurement that can be used for comparison. It has been suggested that an Orthostatic Heart Rate rise of 10-15 BPM is considered 'normal', and an increase of 5 BPM over baseline is indicative of [[Overtraining Syndrome]].
=Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome=
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is the Orthostatic Heart Rate is more than a 30 BPM rise, or the standing Heart Rate is greater than 120 BPM<ref name="Pots"/>. People with POTS have problems with lightheadedness or fainting when standing up.
=Polar OwnOptimizer=
Some Polar [[Heart Rate Monitors]] include a version of the Orthostatic Heart Rate called OwnOptimizer<ref name="PolarOwn"/>. This test uses other [[Heart Rate]] parameters, such as [[Heart Rate Variability]] to indicate [[Overtraining Syndrome]]. There is some limited scientific evidence that the Polar test can detect intense training<ref name="PolarOTScience"/>, but there is no evidence that is predicts or detects [[Overtraining Syndrome]].
=References=
<references>
<ref name="PolarOTScience"> http://www.polar.fi/en/about_polar/who_we_are/research/overtraining_test </ref>
<ref name="Pots">Postural Tachycardia Syndrome Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm </ref>
<ref name="OhInconst">Medscape Log In http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474822_2 </ref>
<ref name="OhComp">Comparison of different methods of obtaining o... [Clin Nurs Res. 2000] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11881701 </ref>
<ref name="OhRef">Orthostatic heart rate and blood pressure in ... [J Child Neurol. 2010] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20197269 </ref>
<ref name="PolarOwn"> http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/support/OwnOptimizer?product_id=7881&category=tips </ref>
</references>