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Fitness Testing Newsletter: Heart Rate Monitors
Hi and welcome to the second fitness testing newsletter for 2012. This month I discuss features of heart rate monitors and some of the uses for them in fitness testing.
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Features of Heart Rate Monitors
- MEASURING HEART RATE - a heart rate monitor is just one of the methods for measuring heart rate (https://www.topendsports.com/testing/heart-rate-measure.htm), other include manual palpation at various sites around the body and electrocardiogram. Heart rate monitors often involve a transmitter attached to a belt worn around the chest which sends a signal to the receiver worn on the wrist like a watch. The current heart rate can be displayed, usually averaged over the last few samples to remove any spikes due to poor transmitter connection or other interference. Interference is often heightened due to the movement of exercise.
- RECORD AND REVIEW A function that can be useful for fitness testing is that many heart rate monitors are able to record the heart rate values to be reviewed later, either by looking at the values on the watch display, or downloaded to a computer. Not only will second by second heart rate be available, you may be able to see the average and maximum heart rate for an exercise period, and to compare your heart rate responses between training sessions. Software installed on your computer may be required to analyze this data, otherwise the data may be able to be imported into a spreadsheet and aligned to other test data.
- TRAINING ZONES AND ALARMS - heart rate monitors are useful to monitor your training intensity. A feature often included with a heart rate monitor is the ability to set training zones, and then it will sound an alarm when you go below or exceed the pre-determined target heart-rate zone.
- TIMING - heart rate monitors also usually include the standard stopwatch functions such as lap and slip times, so you can time your sessions, and coincide events during the exercise session with heart rate changes. Some monitors will have a button to push to signify an event, which will then be a marker on the download so you know at what point the event occurred on the heart rate data.
- MORE - you may also find these features on some heart rate monitors: calories burned, time in zones, and pre-programmed workouts and fitness tests.
Heart Rate Monitors in Fitness Testing
Many fitness tests require the measurement of heart rate during at test or during recovery. In maximal aerobic exercise tests such as beep and VO2max test, a heart rate monitor can be used to help determine if the athlete has actually reached their max. The maximum heart rate can be compared to the predicted max heart rate or amax heart rate measurement from previous testing. In the VO2max test, the athlete is considered to have reached their true VO2max if several of the following occurred: a plateau or 'peaking over' in oxygen uptake, maximal heart rate was reached, attainment of a respiratory exchange ratio of 1.15 or greater, and volitional exhaustion.
Another maximal exercise test, The Conconi or Ramp test, is a simplified Lactate Threshold test, taking heart rate measures rather than blood lactate, and looking at a deflection point on the HR v workload graph.
The record and review function on heart rate monitors is useful for recalling the maximum heart rate value after maximal exercise, as it often only occurs transiently and at the peak of exercise when it is difficult to keep eye on the watch.
Heart rate measurements are also used in many sub-maximal aerobic fitness tests, such as the Queens College Step Test and the Astrand Cycle Test.
Polar Fitness Test
Some heart rate monitors made by Polar include a fitness test function. The Polar Fitness Test is unique in that it determines your cardiovascular fitness level without you having to do any exercise. The test measurement is based on heart rate variability (the changes in your resting heart's beating). You need to have a Polar heart rate monitor with the Fitness Test function. For the calculation you will also need a measurement of your height and body weight, and also input your gender, age and level of physical activity. The test is conducted while relaxed in a laying or sitting position. During the five minute test, the progress is displayed graphically on the monitor. For more details: http://topendsports.com/testing/tests/polar.htm
About this Newsletter
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Rob Wood
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