Functional Path Training: Heart Rate Monitoring

Functional Path Training

The Functional Path is a path that had been traveled many times before but had fallen out of use in favor of smoother paved roads that promised faster and easier results. Seeking to follow and better define the functional path is a continuing journey, fortunately it is a journey that many have traveled before. Functional Path training is getting back to the basics of movement. It is learning to tune into the body and it’s inherent wisdom to produce rhythmic flowing movement.

1/6/06

Heart Rate Monitoring

What does monitoring heart rate really tell us? I have wondered about this for years. I have used heart rate monitors and I have not used them. As I step back and evaluate I realize that at its best heart rate is a very gross measure. The biggest thing you have to worry about heart rate is if there is none. Heart response with healthy athletes is quite predictable. For example with a professional soccer team in the age range from 18 to 28 doing short rest intervals at 70% effort in all probability will have a heart rate that averages 170 beats per minute during the work and drops to around 130 beats per minute during the rest. I really do not need a heart rate monitor to determine this. What about basing training heart rate on a percentage of maximum heart rate? The question is what maximum heart rate, the training maximum heart rate or the competition maximum heart rate. They can be quite different. Formulas used to predict maximum heart rate are notorious for they inaccuracy. So what is the value of heart rate monitoring?

3 Comments:

At 1/9/06, 11:22 AM, Joe Przytula said...: Covert Bailey, the exercise physiologist, said this years ago. He said some hearts are like Kawasakis. "Perceived exertion" was probably a better indicator.
At 1/9/06, 12:01 PM, Anonymous said...: I have found Heart Rate Monitors to be an effective training tool for old guys -- like me, I'm 43 -- who are basically serious recreational runners and are trying to maintain consistent training patterns. For any elite or even serious high school runners, the information seems misleading.
At 4/10/06, 11:40 AM, Anonymous said...: Vern,

I feel that HR training can be used with reverse thinking by looking at patterns created by times. Most of my training with swimmers and runners are based on distance/speed and HR is a recorded outcome and not part of the prescription. I have used many great coaches guidelines to shape energy system work and each athlete has a unique pattern. It is up to the coach to find those patterns that are unique with each athlete.

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About Me

Name: Vern Gambetta

Location: Florida, United States

Vern is currently is the Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. He has been the a conditioning coach for several teams in Major League Soccer as well as the conditioning consultant to the US Men’s World Cup Soccer team. Vern is the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox and Director of Athletic Development for the New York Mets. Vern is recognized internationally as an expert in training and conditioning for sport having worked with world class athletes and teams in a wide variety of sports. He is a popular speaker and writer on conditioning topics having lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe. Vern's coaching experience spans 36 years at all levels of competition. Vern has authored six books and over one hundred articles related to coaching and sport performance in a variety of sports. He received his BA from Fresno State University and his teaching credential with a coaching minor from University of California Santa Barbara. Vern obtained his MA in Education with an emphasis in physical education from Stanford University.

Functional Path Training

1/6/06

Heart Rate Monitoring

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