Appendix a – True Fitness CS8 User Manual
Page 81
Remember to check with your physician before beginning any
exercise program. She can help determine an appropriate target
heart rate. Medications often affect heart rate.
Robert Robergs, editor of the prestigious Journal of Exercise
Physiology, conducted a study in 2002 of the maximal heart rate
equation 220 - age. He found this equation “has no scientific
merit for use in exercise physiology and related fields.”
In his survey of research in this area, Robergs found several other
simple equations that were significantly more accurate. The best
equation he found was derived in 1994 by Oten Inbar:
205.8 - (0.685 * age)
The CS 8.0 console uses the Inbar equation. Even though this is
the best available equation, it still has a possible range of error of
+/- 6 beats per minute.
Other similar equations that are also more accurate than 220 - age
are:
206.3 - (0.711 * age) (Londeree, 1982)
206.0 - (0.700 * age) (Tanaka, 2001)
208.8 - (0.734 * age) (Robergs meta study, 2002)
Roberg’s paper can be found here:
<http://www.asep.org/Documents/Robergs2.pdf>
Check
with Your
Physician
A New
HRmax
Equation
CS 8.0 Owner’s Guide
91
Appendix A