What Is It?
Heart rate monitors are useful in helping an exercise enthusiast determine how fast her heart is beating. By taking a reading of her heart rate, the exerciser is able to determine if she should slow down or push harder during an exercise session. The wrist monitor typically alerts the exerciser when her heart rate has edged above an acceptable limit. While the standard heart monitor is measured via a band worn around the chest that transmits messages to the wrist for easy view, heart monitors worn around the wrist can also measure heartbeat based on a pulse monitor, where the exerciser places her finger on an area and her pulse is measured.
There are two types of wrist heart rate monitors: those that measure the heartbeat via a finger test and those that measure heartbeat via a strap placed around the chest.
Finger Measurement
This method measures your heart rate via a finger check placed on the wrist heart rate monitor. The typical wrist monitor features two sensors: one on the top and the other on the bottom of the monitor. You put your index finger on the bottom monitor and your middle finger on the top monitor. These sensors transmit painless electric signals to the fingers where the pulse can be strongly felt. These signals then bounce back to the wrist monitor, where the heart rate is displayed. This can take some time, usually around 30 seconds, to display the heart rate. This type of monitor is a good option for swimmers, who may not be able to keep a constant heart rate monitor on in the water, yet should still measure heart rate.
Chest-Strap/Wrist Monitor
Because the chest strap is closer to the actual heart itself, it is often able to take more accurate and constant heartbeat measurements. While there are a variety of features associated with this type of heart monitor, at its most basic form the strap transmits constant, painless electric signals toward the heart. This information is then wirelessly transmitted to the wrist monitor, where the heart rate is displayed. Some monitors offer the option to calculate calories or fat burned as a function of heart rate.
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