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Maximum Heart Rate (Max HR)
Rating
Maximum heart rate is the highest number of heartbeats per minute the body is able to reach under maximal effort. The basis for calculating heart rate zones.
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Heart rate zones
In detail
The classic formula "220 minus age" appeared in the 1970s as a rough generalization from a small sample and systematically overestimates or underestimates the actual maximum for many people — the discrepancy can reach 10-20 beats. Newer formulas (Tanaka: 208 − 0.7×age) are more accurate on average across the population, but are also not ideal individually.
How to use it
The most accurate way to find out your maximum is a controlled test to exhaustion (or a short-distance race with a finishing sprint); use formulas only as a starting point if no test has been done.