These sense and display your heart rate and are used by a wide variety of people who exercise. They are usually strapped onto your arm – watch style, and some also come with chest belts for telemetric heart rate monitoring. These are the most accurate as they detect the electrical activity of your heart just like an ECG.
No other instrument gives you so much feedback about your workouts.
Your heart rate is the best way to measure the effectiveness of your workouts.
For effective aerobic conditioning you need to maintain your heart rate at the correct intensity for a minimum of 20 minutes per workout – if it is too high (over 85%) then activity becomes anaerobic and your body produces lactic acid.
A heart rate monitor can therefore ensure that you are working at your optimum heart rate so you burn fat and your body works aerobically. Optimal heart rate zone is 55%-65% of your maximum heart rate.
There are so many heart rate monitors to choose from, it is important not to get frightened into making a hasty decision.
Make sure that the monitor you choose meets your needs and is easy to use.
There are certain monitors which are best suited to certain users. Here is some helpful information.