The heart rate gives a great overview of the intensity or level of the exercise. A clear guideline during training can help to better estimate the level of the exercise. This guideline can be set according to the maximum number of beats that the heart makes per minute. Accurately determining the maximum heart rate is a task for an expert, e.g. a sports doctor, and must be done in a suitable environment.
Maximum hart rate
However, it can also be based on a rough but very easy calculation of the maximum heart rate on the basis of age. It can be assumed that maximum heart rate reduces by 1 beat per year, from the age of 20. For most people this can be calculated by deducting the age in years from 220. For a woman aged 40, this equates to: 220 – 40 = 180.
This figure is accurate enough for most people to adapt their exercise accordingly. However, variations of around ten heart beats above or below are possible (without giving cause for concern).
