Heart rate monitors provide feedback on your pulse and other workout parameters. Advanced models offer other features such as calorie information, fitness tests and topography readings. A heart rate monitor is a good way to track the intensity of your workout, whether you used a basic or advanced monitor.
Function
A heart rate monitor reads your heart rate so you can monitor how hard you are working. It helps you determine the intensity of your workout. As you exercise harder, your heart rate increases. Train at a different intensity levels to help you achieve certain training goals. You can also track your fitness progress with a heart rate monitor. If you can maintain a specific intensity for a longer period of time, you are becoming fitter.
Workout Intensity
The American College of Sports Medicine provides exercise intensity guidelines based on a percentage of your maximum heart rate. Calculate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. For a low-intensity workout, maintain your heart rate between 60 and 70 percent of your maximum heart rate. For a medium-intensity workout, maintain your heart rate between 70 and 80 percent of your maximum heart rate. For a high-intensity workout, maintain your heart rate at 80 percent or higher of your maximum heart rate.
Identification
A heart rate monitor consists of a wrist monitor and a chest strap. The chest strap has electrodes that read the signals from your heart and send them to the wrist monitor. Other electronic devices can interfere with the transmission of the signals. Advanced chest transmitters are coded -- the coding prevents other devices from interfering with the transmission. Some heart rate monitors don't use a chest strap. They have pulse sensors on the front and back of the watch. You touch the sensors to activate the heart rate monitor.
Considerations
The American Council on Exercise lists using a heart rate monitor as one of the top 10 ways to improve your workout. However, heart rate monitors aren't perfect at measuring your exercise intensity. Other factors can affect your heart rate, including medications, altitude, stress and hydration. But a heart rate monitor can help you track your progress, improve your overall aerobic fitness and help you maintain your workouts at the appropriate intensity.
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