HRmax
Principle
HRmax is the
maximum heart rate (HR) that a person should achieve during maximal physical
exertion. Research indicates that it is most closely linked to a person's age;
a person's HRmax will decline during live.
The speed at which it decline over time is related to fitness: the more fit a person is, the more slowly it declines.
HRmax is measured during
periodically increase of the intensity of exercise (for instance, when a
treadmill is being used through increase in speed or slope of the treadmill, or
by interval training) until the subject can no longer continue, or until
certain changes in heart function are detected in the ECG (at which point the
subject is directed to stop). Typical durations of such a test range from 10 to
20 minutes.
There are many prediction equations for HRmax.
One of the most precise prediction equations, published in a meta-analysis
(ref. 1), is:
HRmax
= 208- 0.7 x age (beats/min),
where age is in years.
It is independent of sex.
It is slightly too high for people performing frequently endurance sport
(a decrease of ¾ point per hour endurance sport/week with a maximum of 10 points).
The equation yields probably too high values for people older than 65 years. (A
reduction of 1 point for every year above 65 seems likely). People who have
participated in sports and athletic activities in early years will have a
higher HRmax than those less active as
children.
Application
HRmax is utilized
frequently in the fitness industry, specifically during the calculation of target
heart rate (ref. 2) when prescribing a fitness regimen.
References
1 Tanaka H,
Monahan Kevin D and. Seals
DR Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited2001J Am Coll Cardiol 37, 153-156.
2 Wikipedia