Enter the person’s age and exercise intensity into the calculator to determine the optimal heart rate. This calculator can also evaluate any of the variables given the others are known.
Optimal Heart Rate Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the optimal heart rate during exercise.
OHR = ((220 - A) * I)
Variables:
- OHR is the optimal heart rate (beats per minute)
- A is the person’s age (years)
- I is the intensity of the exercise (decimal, where 0.5 is low intensity and 0.85 is high intensity)
To calculate the optimal heart rate, subtract the person’s age from 220 to find the maximum heart rate. Then, multiply the maximum heart rate by the intensity of the exercise. The result is the optimal heart rate in beats per minute that the person should aim for during aerobic exercise to gain maximum health benefits.
What is an Optimal Heart Rate?
Optimal heart rate, also known as target heart rate, refers to the range of heartbeats per minute that is considered safe and effective for an individual to reach during aerobic exercise to gain maximum health benefits. This rate varies depending on a person’s age, physical condition, and fitness level. Maintaining an optimal heart rate during exercise can help improve cardiovascular health, increase calorie burn, and enhance physical endurance.
How to Calculate Optimal Heart Rate?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Optimal Heart Rate (OHR).
- First, determine the person’s age (A) in years.
- Next, determine the intensity of the exercise (I) as a decimal. For example, 0.5 for low intensity or 0.85 for high intensity.
- Next, use the formula OHR = ((220 – A) * I) to calculate the Optimal Heart Rate.
- Finally, calculate the Optimal Heart Rate (OHR) using the obtained values for A and I.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
person’s age (A) = 30 years
intensity of the exercise (I) = 0.7
