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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=
* 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=