58 year old Max Heart Rate Question

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi Jordan,

My mother in law is 58. She used a max heart rate calculator and saw that her max is 162

She does compound movements in a circuit, for 45 minutes, 3 times per week. Her average heart rate in these sessions is around 120.

When she is doing her workouts, she will stop herself when her heart rate reaches 155 because she thinks it’s “bad to go above your maximum heart rate.” I asked her what she’d rate her perceived exhaustion when her heart rate is at 156, she said “7/10. I never feel like I’m going to throw up.”

Is it wise for her to stop and rest when her heart rate reaches this point?

It would be great to share some information with her so she can make an informed choice.

Thank you!

Noah

4

No, that is not necessary or helpful. Max heart rate calculators are “estimates” that do not always perfectly apply to a given individual.

In addition, unless there is a specific cardiac condition for which heart rate/rhythm monitoring is being recommended, she doesn’t really need to be paying attention to her heart rate routine strength training like this at all, as it is not useful to guide training intensity, is not strongly related to fitness adaptations from this kind of training, and is not needed for safety either.

1 Like