Heart Rate

Measuring Your Heart Rate

Resting Heart Rate

▪ Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. 

▪ Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm).

▪ Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, a weak pulse, or a hard blood vessel may be caused by heart disease or another problem.

Checking Your Pulse

▪ Find your pulse by pressing your pointer and middle finger on the side of your neck (carotid artery), beside your Adam's apple in the hollow area.▪ Look at coach for a demonstration.

▪ When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 30 seconds. Multiply this number by 2 to calculate your beats a minute.

Measuring Your Heart Rate

Resting Heart Rate

▪ You can check your pulse the first thing in the morning, just after you wake up but before you get out of bed.▪ This is the best time to assess your

resting heart rate

▪ You can also check your heart rate before exercise to assess your current resting heart rate.▪ Record your resting heart rate▪ Record the level your resting heart

rate is at using the chart

Measuring Your Heart Rate

Light Activity

▪ As you start to do light exercise, you will notice your heart rate will start to slowly rise.▪ Record your “Light Activity” heart

rate

Strenuous Activity

▪ As you work harder your heart will work harder too. This leads to an increase in heart rate▪ Record your “Strenuous Activity

” heart rateTarget Heart Rate

▪ A heart rate that is attained during aerobic exercise and represents the minimum level of exertion at which cardiovascular fitness can increase for an individual in a given age group.▪ Using the chart: Did you reach your target

heart rate

Measuring Your Heart Rate

Cool Down

▪ As you cool down, your heart rate will slowly fall.▪ After a few minutes please

record your “cool down” heart rate

Your Sheets

▪ Make sure your Name / Grade are on your sheet, and your turn them in to the appropriate coach