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The primary function of a heart rate monitor (HRM) a quick and reliable measure of the wearer's pulse. Heart rate monitors are used as training tools for athletes, and assist them in fine-tuning their conditioning regimen.
Taking the Pulse
Without a heart rate monitor (HRM), the only way for an athlete to collect heart rate data is to take his own pulse, either at the neck or wrist. Doing this accurately is an awkward problem in the middle of a workout.
Function
HRMs eliminate the inaccuracy and guesswork of taking a pulse. Through direct contact with the skin, they read the pulse and provide heart rate data in real time.
Features
In addition to their basic heart rate reading capabilities, these devices usually also have other functions. Clocks (including stopwatch timers), calorie-burning estimators, storage of heart rate data and presentation in charts, GPS, radios and waterproofing are common features.
Who?
Any athlete in a sport that requires plenty of "wind" -- intense cardiovascular conditioning -- will find a HRM useful in training. This includes sprinters and distance runners, cyclists, swimmers, boxers, and soccer and basketball players.
Formats
There are two formats for HRMs. The first is wrist-mounted and worn like a watch, and the second is strapped around the chest and worn underneath a shirt (if a shirt is worn). In both cases, the monitor must make direct contact with the skin.
Aging Fact
The maximum heart rate--or top number of beats per minute the heart can manage--declines by an average of one beat per minute with every year of age.
About The Author
Richard Thomas has been writing since earning his M.A. in international affairs in 1997. A former cheap travel blogger for eHow and senior travel editor for Associated Content, he has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam. Thomas usually writes about boxing, hiking and scuba diving, as well as on the food and wine of his current home of Portugal.
