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Type of
heart rate monitors - 2 minute summary :
CHEST STRAP TYPES - CONTINUOUS heart rate: These are used if you want to carry on normal exercise / activity and have CONTINUOUS monitoring of your heart rate. They generally have functions like heart rate ZONE ALARM to bleep when you go above / below a certain HR threshold. They generally give post exercise feedback like calories burnt, average, max and minimum heart rate throughout the session. CHEST STRAP types can be ANALOGUE or DIGITAL.
NO CHEST
STRAP - STRAPLESS - ON DEMAND heart rate = These units work with ECG accuracy to provide heart
rate "on demand". That means as and when you press the
buttons on the front. For light / moderate exercise, and for use
throughout the day, this is convenient and often preferred to
a chest strap type. However, for continuous monitoring of heart
rate, especially throughout shorter duration, higher intensity
exercise, the chest strap type is often preferred. See Beat Pro WK045 pulse monitor. QUALITY NOTE. We do NOT sell the cheap optical / movement sensing pulse watches you may see on other sites for under £20.. why not? because they're inaccurate and cannot be trusted. We only sell ECG calibrated devices that electrical sense the heart rate activity.
ANALOGUE
CHEST STRAP = This is the original heart rate transmission technology.
They sense heart rate activity via a small sensor worn around
the chest and send the data using wireless technology to the watch.
They will give continuous heart rate monitoring throughout a session.
They provide accurate post exercise data review as they have been
recording throughout (unlike the STRAPLESS versions that only
read HR when you touch the sensors) These units will generally interface with most popular gym equipment. There is the potential
for interference from other HRM users, if used within 3 feet of
your unit. However, If used in a quiet gym, or on your own...
no problem.
DIGITAL
CHEST STRAP = Everything as above, with the exception of
a more ROBUST digitally signalling signal from chest strap to
watch. This has the clear advantage of reducing the risk of interference.
However, it will NOT interface with popular gym equipment... no
big deal.... you can see your heart rate on your wrist :-) You
will find digital HRMs from Timex, Suunto (T3C, T4C, T6C), CardioSport Fusion range and Go15, 25 and 35 and the Polar WIND models (RS800 / CS600 etc)
Polar make
a CODED analogue transmitter / watch system that has ability to
interface with most popular gym equipment and a reasonable degree
of crosstalk / interference protection by way of "coded"
signals. See Polar FS2C, F7 and above, RS series and Polar FT series
DUAL MODE
- ANALOGUE CHEST STRAP and NO CHEST STRAP = These units have
the best of both worlds. Strapless monitoring for times when you
just need heart rate on demand, as and when the user wants to
monitor heart rate, and, continuous monitoring via the wireless
analogue chest transmitter for more thorough monitoring. Unfortunately, there are currently no such models available that meet this criteria.
For more information regarding INTERFACING with GYM EQUIPMENT : (gym equipment note)
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Problems
getting a reading
All
heart rate monitors work by sensing the electrical stimulation
of the heart. This stimulation is sensed by the "electrodes"
built in to the chest strap. The better the fit, the stronger
the pick up. This data is then transmitted to the watch (receiver)
using various radio frequencies.
There
are some STRAPLESS heart rate monitors that check this stimulation
of the heart by completing a circuit from right hand fingers
through watch on left hand, up left arm, across heart and back
down right hand (or vice versa if you are left handed)
To help
get a good clear signal from the skin, it is essential to wet
the electrodes with water before using the HRM (the electrodes
are the contacts 10 cm either side of centre on the back of
the chest transmitter). If this moisture dries out before the
user starts sweating, you may experience erroneous readings
half way through a session. We
recommend the use of ECG (electro - conductive - gel) with all
heart rate monitor straps if you are experiencing any unusually
high / low or erratic readings. You
can buy ECG gel from here
From our
experience, most erroneous Heart Rate readings are due to either
Lack of moisture
on electrodes (either re-wet or apply GEL)
Flat battery
in transmitter (most makes are self change, please replace or
test battery)
External
electrical interference. This is something that we cannot predict.
In some envronments there may be levels of electrical noise higher
than usually experienced in gyms, homes etc. Sometimes it might
be high voltage power lines, or a local wireless network sending
a signal that interferes with the heart rate transmission. In
these cases we can only suggest you identify the source and try
to exercise away from it. The DIGITAL heart rate monitors are
btter at avoiding electrical noise than the ANALOGUE type. To
see what transmission mrthod a unit uses, please find the heart
rate monitor from this list (all
heart monitors) and click the left hand side (dark blue text,
make and model), then refer to "CROSSTALK AVOIDANCE".
CROSSTALK
- interference from another heart rate monitor user within
1-5 metres of you, using a similar device. As with electrical
interference, try moving away from the source. Alternatively,
DIGITAL HRM's and Polar coded HRM's are better at avoiding crosstalk
than plain, uncoded analogue. To see what transmission mrthod
a unit uses, please find the heart rate monitor from this list
(all heart monitors)
and click the left hand side link (dark blue text, make and model),
then refer to "CROSSTALK AVOIDANCE".
Poor fitting
of chest transmitter ( too loose or sometimes to tight)
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Why
use a heart rate monitor?
A heart
rate monitor let's you really know how hard you are working..
A heart rate monitor can be used to control the intensity of
your activity by way of an audible and visual alarm. The unit
will bleep when you are exercising too hard, or to lightly.
With this intensity control the user can prelong the exercise,
optimise exercise control, prevent over and under training etc.
With this level of heart rate control the user will hopefully
achieve their goal quicker and with less time wasted working
too hard / too easy.
If you
are an exerciser, runner, cyclist, whatever, odes not matter,
let's say you wish to train for 1 hour. It is far too easy to
either go off too fast, and then struggle through at a plod,
or plod at the start and do a final dash for the line in the
last 5 minutes... with too much energy left in the tank.....
A heart rate monitor will help you to manage a constant effort
throughout a training session, thus vastly improving you total
training time and quality.
Your
heart rate is one of the most useful indicators of fitness level
- how quickly you recover and also when comparing one session
against another. ie. same distance, same time, lower average
HR = improved fitness
Many of
the heart rate monitors we sell will provide calorific burn
feedback, how many calories have been burnt during an exercise
session. This is a great way to track and compare the intensity
of an exercise session to another one.
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Can I use an HRM with a PACEMAKER?
This information was kindly provided by Polar. As such, we recommend
the Polar HRM brand for Pacemaker customers.
Persons who have a pacemaker use the Polar heart rate monitor at their own
risk. Before starting use, we always recommend an exercise test under
doctor's supervision. The test is to ensure the safety and reliability of
the simultaneous use of the pacemaker and the heart rate monitor.
Also please note that Polar heart rate monitors have been developed to
measure healthy people’s heart rate. People having a medical condition that
affects heart rate or limits exercise intensity should consult a doctor
before beginning a regular exercise program. These conditions include:
high blood pressure,
high blood cholesterol,
signs or symptoms of any disease,
recovery from a serious illness or a medical treatment e.g. surgery,
usage of a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device.
In most cases the Polar heart rate monitors work fine for persons with
cardiac arrhythmia, but in some cases (many abnormal heart beat intervals)
arrythmia may cause incorrect heart rate readings. Having many abnormal
heart beat intervals may also cause failure of the Polar Fitness Test.
The following information can be given to the manufacturer of pacemaker,
defibrillator or another implanted electronic device when they are
evaluating the risks involved in the simultaneous use of the Polar HRM and
their devices.
The Polar Transmitters send short signals for each heartbeat to the
receiver. These signals are low-frequency 5 kHz (kilohertz) electromagnetic
fields at very low power, less than 2nW (nanowatts). The magnetic field
strength at the transmitter is 5 uT (microtesla) and 1 nT (nanotesla) at a
1 m distance.
Polar Non-Coded and T31 Transmitters :
Transmission frequency: 5kHz
Means of transmission: On/Off -modulated electromagnetic field with a
5-7ms burst for each heart beat
Polar Coded, T31 C, WearLink 31 C and T61 Transmitters:
Transmission frequency: 5kHz
Means of transmission: On/Off -modulated electromagnetic field with a
train of three 5ms bursts for each heart beat. Time interval coding.
The strength of the electromagnetic field at the transmitter is 5 uT
(microtesla) and 1 nT (nanotesla) at 1 m distance.
The maximum radiated power is less than 2 nW (nanowatts).
However, there are a very small number of cases in cardiac rehabilitation
where the heart rate monitor will not work, for example: low voltage R-wave
signals, atrial fibrillation or bundle branch blocks. In your case we would
recommend to check the operation of heart rate monitor during ECG
measurement at rest and during exercise. Polar has developed the
transmitters to detect a normal ECG and the issues you described (on
earlier UK records) may have have an effect on your ECG. Thus, cause the
transmitter not to detect the heart rate.
Should it be that the transmitter cannot detect the heart rate being in the
"normal" position (on the chest), where the signal is normally the
greatest, it could be possible that signal of your heart is greater
somewhere else. Could you try to move it around e.g. wear it on your back,
on your stomache, on your sides?
Polar transmitter detects r-peaks as follows:
R-peak height in ECG signal:
0.2 mV (minimum detectable)
>1.0 mV (more reliable during motion)
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Calorie
burn using a heart rate monitor?
Polar and
most CV equipment manufacturers use a calorie algorithm that
is INCLUSIVE of your metabolic rate calories.... i.e. calories
burnt in TOTAL during exercise (including those you would have
burnt if not exercising).
Timex, Oregon
Scientific and a couple of other HRM manufacturers give calories
burnt IN EXCESS of normal metabolic calorie expenditure. i.e
extra calories burnt due to exercise.
If an average
person burns 2500 calories per day, as a base calorie burn,
that is about 150-200 per hour through non-exercise. This is
incorporated in to the Polar algorithm, but ignored by many
others like Oregon Scientific.
Also, many
HRM only start accurately calculating calories when the HR is
above 100 or even 120 bpm. The new Polar F series has an improved
calorie formula that works down to about 80 bpm.
HOWEVER...
if worn throughout a sedentary working day, the calories burnt
will generally be inflated. They are best used to show exercise
burnt calories, while exercising, when HR is over 100 bpm.
Hope that
makes sense. The main thing to remember is that your HRM, whichever
make.model, is CONSISTENT, so you can compare from one session
to the next.
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Do
I need to use a chest strap with my heart rate monitor?
There
are some heart rate monitors that do not have a chest strap.
These units measure the electrical stimulation of the heart
through the finger tips. You will only get an HR reading when
your fingers touch the sensors. Although highly accurate (the
models we sell measure electrical impulse, not PULSE beating
through the finger, these type are cheap and NOT accurate) it
is difficult to exercise effectively when having to check heart
ratr all the time.
A chest
strap HRM is generall more beneficial. It allows the user to
set a training zone alarm and get on with the exercise. After
the session the user can review average HR, time spent in zone,
calories burnt etc (depending on model)
With a
strapless HRM, this is not possible. In most cases, for people
undertaking moderate exercise, we would always recommend a chest
strap type.
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Heart
Rate Monitor chest straps?
All
the heart rate monitors we sell NEED a chest strap and COME
WITH a chest strap. The only "strapless" heart rate
monitors we sell can be found here, strapless
heart monitors. The advantage of CHEST STRAP type heart
monitors is that they are continuous and can be used to recall
average and maximum heart rate, plus time in zone, calories
burnt etc. They can also be used to keep the wearer in a heart
rate training zone.
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What can a heart rate monitor
tell me? ?
Most
heart rate monitors can tell you the time of day!
They
can tell you your current heart rate
They
can tell you when you are, or are not, training within your predetermined
training zone
Some
can tell you your average heart rate during your current session
Some will provide calories burnt throughout the session
Most have an exercise duration timers, often with laps and splits
Some HRM's can also give running, walking, cycling SPEED and DISTANCE by way of sensitive accelerometer foot pod or GPS module (check model)
Some even
tell you your current heart rate as a percentage of your upper
limit.
i.e. 82% (as opposed to 175 bpm, for example)
% of upper
limit allows you to control your warm up progressively and your
cool down progressively
Doing so
is a key factor to wise training and will help to reduce the risk
of short term and long term injury
Warming
up and cooling down are an intergral part of correct training.
There are even some models like the Suunto T3c/4c and 6c that tell you a TRAINING EFFECT to illustrate training load - this is a very useful feature that helps to prevent OVER / UNDER training
Once you get in to your body's heart patterns, you
will recognise signs of illness and overtraining
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Can I use my monitor to interface
with the equipment in my gym?
There are many heart rate monitor transmission and reciever units that still use the older analogue, uncoded
FM transmission. Polar (not WIND HR belts) and CardioSport (not SYS 122 belts) primarily - all work in the same way and are
generally compatible with most common gym equipment. Please check with us before if this is ESSENTIAL to your selection of an HRM
(gym equipment note)
There is a FULL DESCRIPTION of the different systems here: Heart Rate Monitor belts and systems
If you need confirmation, please ask us on 0845 0900 192
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Do I need to use a chest
strap and do all monitors come with one?
Yes and
No ?
Yes, if you want the heart rate monitor to continuously
monitor your heart rate and keep you within a target zone. And
yes if you want the HRM to give you accurate calorific and heart
rate feedback, i.e. average HR, max HR, calories burnt etc.
No, if you just want an occasional snapshot of your
heart rate.
A chest strap is included with ALL Heart rate monitors we sell
except these strapless HRM (momentaneous HR
readings only)
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Can a heart rate monitor help me
lose weight? (aid fat loss)
Yes, it
can help you lose weight (aid fat loss) when used in conjunction
with a sensible eating plan and exercise programme
The ideal training zone for weight loss (fat loss) is, approximately,
60%-70% of your maximum heart rate
Programmable Training zones help you ensure that you spend most
of your training session in the correct "zone"
A heart rate monitor accurately controls the intensity and duration
of your sessions
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Can
a heart rate monitor help me avoid injuries?
Yes, it
can. A high percentage of illness and injury is due to overtraining
A heart rate monitor will let you know when your body has recovered
properly
Following a marathon, an athlete's resting heart rate may not
settle for 3 to 4 days
The athlete may feel like they are OK to start training again,
but an HRM will tell them
they should continue to rest
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Can
I swim with my heart rate monitor
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Most
Heart Rate Monitors are water resistant to 20, 30, 50
or 100 metres
depending on the model. This is a theoretical static pressure
measurement and does NOT relate to a practical depth.
Most 20-50 metre water resistant HRMs are fine for surface
swimming only. Please check with us before making any
assumptions on wate resistancy
Generally,
HRMs do NOT work (read the heart rate) in the water due
to inability to transmit the radio (FM) waves under water.
They are designed to transmit in the air. It is possible
to get a good reading in the pool only when your chest
area, and the transmitter, is clear of the water. This
is the same for all chest strap type HRMs.
For
Triathletes, this means that the HRM becomes a stopwatch
only for the swim section. The unit will not be damaged
in the pool, but it will not record heart rate (unless
you are lucky, we cannot guarantee it, nor is it a fault
if it fails to read HR while swimming)
For SWIMMING, there are currently two main options:
1) LIVE heart rate reading at the END of a set of lengths. By using the hand held INSTA PULSE device the swimming coach will get an ECG accurate heart rate within 3 - 5 seconds of grabbing hold of the unit. This heart rate reading is LIVE and REFESHING, it will show realtime increases / decreases of heart rate for the duration of time that the user keeps hold of the INSTA PULSE. The INSTA PULSE unit is totally water proof and runs from just 1 x self change 9 volt battery. For more details of the INSTA PULSE swimmers' heart rate monitor, please click here
2) POST EXERCISE review showing total heart rate activity we recommend the use of the Suuto MEMORY BELT. The MEMORY BELT will sample the heart rate every second and store up to 20 hours of data in the belt's internal memory chip. This data can then be downloaded, post exercise, to the Suunto Training Manager software for FULL review and training effect analysis. Please click here for more details on Suunto MEMORY BELT. The MEMORY BELT will also act like a standard transmitter belt when used out of the water, interfacing with the Suunto T3c - Suunto T4c and Suunto T6c heart rate monitor watches
TRIATHLETES requirements. A popular choice for a TRIATHLETE is a Suunto T3C / T4C or T6C with a MEMORY BELT swap out. When swimming, the MEMORY BELT is recording ALL the heart rate activity plus training time, the wrist watch is just acting as a stop watch at this moment) - TRANSITION - the MEMORY belt is still internally storing HR data, but it is now also TRANSMITTING the HR data to the wrist unit, so the user has access to HEART RATE plus BIKE SPEED and PEDAL CADENCE - TRANSITION - the wrist unit will now PAIR with the FOOT POD so the user now has access to HEART RATE plus RUNNING PACE and DISTANCE... Assuming the LAP button is used at each transition, the user has a full chrono breakdown of the event, PLUS, in the watch, there is a detailed analysis of BIKE/RUN speed, distance, pace data, PLUS, in the MEMORY BELT there is a FULL recording of total heart rate activity from start to finish....
LIVE option 2) Wrist watch style strapless
HRMs. The new Oregon Scientific SE138 is GREAT for pool use as the HR sensor contacts are NOT buttons. The user just places their fingers on the metal contacts for 5 or 6 seconds to get an ECG accurate heart rate reading. The other strapless HRM (like the Beat Pro WK45 and SmartHealth pulse watch) the ones with finger touch BUTTON contacts, can be used
in the pool but the buttons must be mostly dry before
pressing the sensors. AVOID pressing the buttons under the
water.
We
recommend in most models that you should not press
any buttons under water. See user's manual for details.
Heart rate measurement in a water environment is technically demanding for the
following reasons:
Pool
water with a high chlorine (or bromine) content, as well
as seawater,
may be very conductive and the electrodes of a transmitter
may get short
circuited and ECG signals cannot be detected by the transmitter
unit.
Jumping
into the water or strenuous muscle movement during competitive
swimming may cause water resistance that shifts the transmitter
on the body
to a location where it is not possible to pick up the
ECG signal.
The
ECG signal strength varies depending on the individual's
tissue composition. The percentage of people who have
problems in heart rate measuring is considerably higher
in a water environment than in other uses.
In
the watch industry the water resistance is generally indicated
as metres of
water pressure, meaning a static pressure of water at
the level in question.
Most manufacturers' apply the same indication system,
as it is well known and water
resistance is an essential feature of the heart rate monitor.
However,
it should be noted that when performing any underwater
activity, the
dynamic pressure generated by movement through the water
is greater than the
static pressure. Generally, all the HRM's we sell are
fine for use while bathing,
swimming and showering, BUT, not under water activity
like scuba diving. |
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How
do you calculate maximum heart rate?
A rough
guide to calculate your maximum heart rate (MHR) is :-
Male 220 - age = MHR in beats per minute
Female 226 - age = MHR in beats per minute
It is important to calculate your MHR as it is used when calculating
intensity of effort. i.e 65% of MHR for 20 minutes
You should note that your current fitness level does have an
impact on your actual MHR
People new to exercising should avoid trying to reach their
theoretical MHR
The
only accurate (and safe) method of measuring MHR is through
a clinical graduated exercise test
Site owners comment: We find that the 220 - age
method of zone calculation are "OK" but generally provide "safe"
limits that may not stretch relatively fit exercisers, especially
older people, who the 220 - age formula gives very "conservative"
HR values. The book that we give out with each free HRM helps
you to set your personal HR limits, folloiwng a safe sub maximal
exercise test, and also taking in to account your resting heart
rate.
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What
are my "training zones"
Training
zones are guides to help you achieve the desired affect of your
exercise plan
A body builder trying to gain muscle mass, does not want to
follow the same programme as a long distance runner
A heart rate monitor helps you to stay in your correct zone,
with regard to your training goal
There are roughly 5 zones (depending on what you read)
These zones start at 50% of MHR, for conditioning/recovery)
and go up to 95%-100% of MHR for maximum intensity training
Someone new to heart rate monitors, but with a foundation in
exercise, would normally start a programme at about 60%-70%MHR
This is a safe "maintenance/weight" loss intensity
This would be repeated 3 or 4 times a week for 30 minutes per
session
Site owners comment: We
find that the 220 - age method of zone calculation are "OK"
but generally provide "safe" limits that may not stretch relatively
fit exercisers, especially older people, who the 220 - age formula
gives very "conservative" HR values. The book that we give out
FREE with each HRM helps you to set your personal HR limits,
following a safe sub maximal exercise test, and also taking
in to account your resting heart rate.
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Can
a heart rate monitor help me to develop my aerobic system?
Yes, your
aerobic (with oxygen, endurance events) zone is approximately
70-80% of MHR
Setting your upper and lower limits to 80 and 70 respectively
will let you know how much time you are spending in the aerobic
zone
Your heart rate monitor will help you to avoid undertraining,
exercise with no gain
Your heart rate monitor will help you to avoid overtraining,
exercising in the anaerobic zone will not improve your aerobic
performance
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Can
a heart rate monitor help me to develop my anaerobic system?
Yes, your
anaerobic (without oxygen, short, explosive power events)zone
is approximately 80-90% of MHR
Setting your upper and lower limits to 90 and 80 respectively
will let you know how much time you are spending in the anaerobioc
zone
Your heart rate monitor will help you to avoid undertraining,
exercising in the aerobic zone
Your heart rate monitor will also help you to avoid overtraining,
going beyond 90% for too long can result in fatigue
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Can
I get more help and advice?
Yes, please
use our feedback form
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READ
THIS FIRST :
Before you start....
No-one should
start an exercise programme without undertaking the necessary
health checks
All the information given on this website is intended to provide
a guideline for apparently healthy individuals
We recommend consultation with a doctor or other professional
if you believe you have any contraindications to exercise
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