Chest pulse meter is a classic version of a portable heart rate monitor. It consists of a sensor attached to the chest on an elastic strap, and a receiver that is most often made in the form of a clock and is located on the wrist.
Consider the pros and cons of such heart rate monitors and we'll figure out how to choose among the many models a suitable option for yourself.
Those who need
These devices can be indispensable :
- for professional sportsmen and amateur athletes who want to do their best;
- for anyone who wants to lose weight;
- for people with heart disease.
In this case, they perform two main functions:
-
Allows to control the load of the : for cycling sports, for each athlete there is a certain pulse corridor - for example, from 150 to 180 beats per minute - which is most effective.
During training, the athlete uses the heart rate monitor to monitor the heart rate. If it goes beyond this corridor - it becomes too low or too high - it means that you need to add or lower the tempo.
-
Allows you to track the progress of .If an athlete is just beginning to exercise, physical activity causes a large increase in heart rate. Over time, the body will become more and more trained, and under the same loads, the heart rate will increase slightly.
In order to lose weight, you need to engage in all the same cyclic sports or exercise with weights with low load, but high intensity. At the same time, also needs to ensure that the pulse during the training is kept in a certain corridor of - neither too large nor too small.
With heart disease , physical activity can also be very useful. Of course, you can start playing sports only after consulting a doctor, and you need to exercise with caution. It is also necessary to monitor the pulse, making sure that it does not rise too much. In this case, lessons will not harm the body, but will only be useful.
In addition, the instrument enables the to monitor the heart rate during the day to get a complete picture of cardiac activity.
What is this device, how it appeared and what is needed, how to calculate the necessary pulse corridor - find out everything from the video:
How the
works. The sensor that determines the heart rate is attached to the chest with a special elastic strap. The electrodes placed on it are usually wetted with water or covered with a special gel - this provides them with good contact with the skin.
The sensor transmits a signal to the receiver, which displays the heart rate. The signal is transmitted in analog or digital form.
At the same time, the chest pulsometers differ in the type of the receiver .Its role can be performed by:
- a special wrist receiver;
- gps-navigator;
- cycling computer;
- smartphone;
- smart watch or bracelet.
Advantages and disadvantages of
The main alternatives to pulse monitors with a chest sensor are models with a built-in sensor( wrist heart rate monitor) and a model with a blood flow sensor( attached to the finger or earlobe).
The main advantage of a chest pulse monitor is the measurement accuracy of the .It qualitatively measures the heart rate in any situation - regardless of whether you are at rest, are engaged in easy physical work or are actively involved in sports.
The second important plus of the device with a chest sensor - , does not need to take any additional steps to measure the heart rate: the heart rate is always displayed on the receiver screen. But in order to know the pulse on some wrist heart rate monitors, you need to put a second hand on the electrodes of such a device - during training it can be difficult.
There are two important drawbacks to the chest pulse meter: the
- sensor can cause inconvenience while wearing;
- complexity of use: in order to start using a chest pulse meter, you need not only to put the receiver on the hand, but also to fix the sensor.
How to choose the right
If there are three main points that you should pay attention to when purchasing a heart rate monitor with a chest sensor:
- the manufacturer : when buying the first heart rate monitor, it makes sense to mention models of well-known and proven manufacturers such as Polar, Sigma, Beurer or Suunto;
- additional functions of the : almost all heart rate monitors besides the heart rate measurement have additional functions, so you should choose the device with the characteristics that will suit you;
- belt length : for people with excess weight, the length of a standard belt may not be enough, this problem is not so common, but this moment also needs to be taken into account.
Additional functions of the
The standard additional functions of the heart rate monitor for chest include:
- clock;
- timer and stopwatch - a useful function in sports;
- pedometer;
- the ability to set the desired pulse zone - you can specify the lower and upper limit of the desired pulse corridor, when you exit it, the device will beep;
- maintaining training statistics;
- body mass index calculator;
- calculator of calories burned;
- measurement of intensity and frequency of respiration.
For more information on choosing the right device, see the video:
Nuances of using
If you bought the simplest device with a clock-like receiver, all you need to do is secure the sensor to your chest and put the receiver on your hand. After that, the heart rate will immediately appear on the screen. You will also need to set the date and time and make other necessary settings.
Popular models of
Torneo H-102
Inexpensive cardiac monitor with the function of counting the workout time and the counter of the spent calories .Emits a sound signal when exiting the established pulse corridor.
You can store the training data in memory. There is a built-in backlight that allows you to practice at dusk or in the dark.
Polar FT4
This model costs twice as much as the previous model and is better for both functionality and manufacturing quality.
Among other things, FT4 emits a sound signal when exiting the desired pulse corridor, calculates the amount of calories spent, displays data on changes in the indicators involved in the form of graphs. The device can be used underwater .This heart monitor has a good quality-price ratio and is very popular.
Garmin Forerunner 610 HRM
Top-level device for those who need maximum functionality and maximum reliability.
Among the interesting features - the ability to charge via USB-port, GPS, presence of vibration in addition to the audio signal and excellent design.
Answers to frequently asked questions
- How much does a heart rate monitor with a chest sensor?
These devices cost today from 2500 to 50,000 rubles. The average price of a reliable device with all the necessary functions is from 5000 to 15000 rubles. At the same time, most simple models cost from 3000 to 5000 rubles.correctly determine the heart rate and have additional functions, which makes them a good purchase for everyone who wants to avoid unnecessary costs.
- What comes with the kit?
Standard equipment - sensor, receiver, manual and warranty card. When buying, pay attention to the warranty period - usually it is from 12 to 24 months.
Devices with a warranty of less than a year should not be bought. Also, when buying, it is necessary to clarify whether the batteries are included, if not, immediately purchase them.
- What is the difference between cheap and expensive models?
The cost of the device depends on several factors - brand promotion, functionality and manufacturing quality. Expensive devices usually have a lot of additional features, but in the event that they do not interest you, and you do not need to buy such a device.
- What precautions should I take while using the device?
Before using, please read the instructions. Specify whether the device is waterproof or not - heart rate monitor with water protection can be used for swimming, if there is no protection, you can not, of course, do this. Otherwise, no special precautions are required.
With a properly selected heart rate monitor , you can always monitor the heart rate of the .Depending on your goals and objectives, this device will allow you to either effectively play sports and burn fat, or monitor the activity of the heart during training and in everyday life, so as not to give it an unduly heavy load.
