HI!
The calculation of Maximum Heart Rate is extremely important when developing exercise programs, especially those that are designed to be "fat burning" for weight loss.
I have always (last few years) calculated maximum heart rate using the most commonly accepted equation MHR = 220-Age.
During a scan of the most current research, I found that Tanaka, et al in 2001 did research that expanded and clarified this equation. While the other equation represents younger age groups, the research basis for that equation lacked statistically relevant representation from the older population. Tanaka's research added a number of older members of the population to the research database and came up with a new equation:
MHR = 208-(0.7*Age)
While it doesn't look like much of a difference, there are two important conclusions from this new equation:
1) I have been using too low a number for MHR, and therefore for Target Heart Rate for designed cardiovascular exercise routines, and 2) the equation is not gender specific - the equations for males and females is the same.
For me, at 66 years old, my well-used maximum heart rate was 155. Now my new calculated maximum heart rate is 162 ...... a difference of 7 beats per minute or almost 5%.
Cheers!
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