Maximum Heart Rate
As I wrote last time, I will be addressing several prominent and oft believed fitness myths that permeate the health and fitness world. When people come to me for a personal training consultation, they often tell me what their maximum heart rate is and how they have to be careful not to exceed it. While I agree with the latter, for safety’s sake in most people, the first part of that statement is the most interesting. I ask them how they know their maximum heart rate? Did they get a VO2 max test performed or a heart stress test at a cardiologist’s office? 99% of the time the answer is neither. They know the age old formula of subtracting your age from the number 220 and therein the answer, lies your maximum heart rate.
This formula is a long held belief amongst fitness enthusiasts and poorly educated personal trainers as it’s seen in many of the personal trainer certification books that cost hundreds of dollars for aspiring personal trainers to learn and be tested on in order to become certified. A moment’s thought will lead most to realize how preposterous and potentially dangerous this formula truly is. Let’s say, for example, you, the reader, me, and your neighbor are all 40 years old. Does it stand to any reason that we would all have the same maximum heart rate? Of course not. There’s many external dynamics to be considered such as genetics, medical histories, fitness levels, etc. If you buy a heart rate monitor like the popular fit bit, or the like, be sure you have the proper data so you can safely and efficiently exercise within those parameters. Otherwise, the best case scenario is you exercise without working through to your full potential. Worst case scenario, you over stress your cardiac muscle and ultimately risk heart failure.
Andy
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