Heart Rate Moniters

Hi,

I would like to get some feed back on heart rate moniters. I want to start racing bikes and heart rate is very important. Called Medtronic and they suggested a finger moniter. I do not see that working. Anyone out there had luck with a chest strap moniter?

6 Comments

Heart Rate Monitor

by brucecal - 2011-08-25 08:08:07

Hi
I also have a Medtronics and use a chest strap with a wrist display.
I have used several different manufacturers but currently using one from Omron. I like this one because you can change the batteries in the chest strap and can not in some other brands.
Many exercise machines will pick up the signal from the chest straps also.
Bruce

Possible problem

by ElectricFrank - 2011-08-26 01:08:24

The reason Medtronic is suggesting the finger monitor is that it uses blood pulses rather than the electrical ECG signal used by the chest strap. The problem with some ECG monitors, and depending on the settings of your pacer, they may count the pacing electrical signals as well as the hearts contraction causing readings that are erratic. They can suddenly jump from correct to half or double actual HR.

The problem is that it is hard to know until you try it. Bruce has a good combination of pacer, settings, and monitor. Others have had problems with the same monitor.Recently there was a post on the forum from someone who had contacted Omron and they said they didn't guarantee accurate readings with a pacemaker.

By the way I'm an electronic engineer and have built my own ECG. I spent a lot of time programming software to handle the pacer waves.

frank

Bike Rider

by Paulma - 2011-08-26 03:08:24

Hi

I also have a Medtronic and use a chest strap. I have recently purchased a Garmin 800 and on most days it works well. Some days it takes a while for the HR reading to kick in but not really sure if I can put this down to the PM or something else but after about 20 minutes it seems to give a good indication.

Paul

no luck

by Tracey_E - 2011-08-27 10:08:25

I haven't been able to find a brand that works for me, which is common with pm's so be sure to try it before you buy it. Mostly they show no reading because the pm interferes with the signal. A few show a too-high rate because they pick up the pm spikes along with the beats.

I just listen to my body, it's not hard to tell if I'm working my hardest or not, I've found that how much I exert is usually unrelated to where my hr is. If I feel bad, I take a break and count my pulse, the rest of the time I don't bother. Unless you are hitting your upper limit and need to keep a close eye on your hr, don't put too much emphasis on what your hr is and where the charts say you should be. Our heart rates are controlled by computer so those hr charts don't really apply to us much.

A HR Montior that definitely works

by mjayjock - 2011-09-15 07:09:35

I followed this topic and decided to get a epulse2 HR monitor that is strapless and measures the pulse non-electrically. it mounts on the forearm and it seems to work great. It is not cheap at about $115 on
amazon but, like I say, it seems to work very well. I just ordered a standard HR monitor from Polar to see if I can get it to work as well. My EP Doctor says that there should be no problem with it working for me. I will wear both of them to see if its true. I will post the results when I get them. I really want a monitor that I can put on the handbars of my bike so I really hope the Polar works.

Epulse2 and Traditional Polar both work

by mjayjock - 2012-02-28 08:02:22

I put both the epulse2 HR monitor on at the same time as a standard Polar (with the chest strap) they were within 2 bpm of each other over an entire run with a HR around 150. I have a BIOTRONIK EVIA DR-T with 2 leads.

You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.