Why
Train with a Heart Rate Monitor?
By monitoring
heart rate, the simple observation that the harder we exercise, the
faster our heart beats is put to good use. Professional athletes and
amateurs alike have for decades been relying on the information provided
by their heart rate monitor for the following reasons:
A heart rate monitor is like a rev counter, giving a precise measurement
of
exercise intensity.
Training at your own ideal pace is made possible with a heart rate monitor.
Direct measurement of heart rate during exercise is the most accurate
way
to gauge performance.
Progress can be monitored and measured, increasing motivation.
It maximizes the benefits of exercise in a limited amount of time.
It introduces objective observation. Are you on the right track? Are
you
improving?
It is a tool for regulating frequency and intensity of workouts.
Because of the immediate feedback it provides, heart rate monitoring
is an
ideal training partner.
How
does it work?
When you start training, your heart rate increases rapidly in proportion
to the intensity of the training. In Polar Heart Rate Monitors, the
transmitter belt detects the electrocardiogram (ECG - the electric signal
originating from your heart) and sends an electromagnetic signal to
the Polar wrist receiver where heart rate information appears.
The heart moves blood from the lungs (where the blood picks up oxygen)
to
the muscles (which burn the oxygen as fuel) and back to the lungs again.
The harder the training, the more fuel the muscles need and the harder
the
heart has to work to pump oxygen-rich blood to the muscles.
As you get fitter, your heart is able to pump more blood with every
beat.
As a result, your heart doesnt have to beat as often to get the needed
oxygen to your muscles, decreasing resting heart rate and exercise heart
rate on all exertion levels.
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