Heart Rate and Exercise

The measurement of the human heart rate is very useful in medicine and science. At rest heart rate can indicate levels of fitness or the presence of disease or stress, during exercise it indicates fitness level and exercise intensity, and the maximum level is a measure of your cardiac capacity and is an indicator of fatigue.

The following pages discuss the various uses of heart rate and the procedures for the measurement of heart rate during exercise and at rest, and the interpretation of these values.

• Measuring Heart Rate — how to measure using the manual and monitor methods.
• Resting Heart Rate — are you fit, rested and recovered?
• Exercise Heart Rate — a measure of intensity and fitness.
• Maximum Heart Rate — how high can you go?
• Heart Rate and Fitness Testing — an important component of many tests.
• Resting Heart Rate FAQ — answers to common questions about resting heart rate.
• Normal Heart Rate — a discussion about what is 'normal' when it comes to your heart.

Articles

• Heart Rate Monitors - how they work.
• Features of Heart Rate Monitors
• Weight loss article 'Weight Management and Heart Rate Monitors'