Boring technical question about heart rate calculation

[ArthurJG]

So, I know that wrist worn heart rate monitors are thought to be less accurate under conditions of strenuous exercise. I know that the various age-based formulae for maximum heart rate are very approximate and that this is even more true for people who exercise regularly. I know that the only way to get an accurate figure for my maximum heart rate would be to submit to something akin to torture under medical supervision: and I also know that I don't want to do that.

Now, Fitbit and Strava claim to use the same formula for estimating heart rate. Fitbit calculates it to be 161, which is indeed what the formula yields but it's clearly not right in my case because I can sustain exercise at around that level for half an hour without discomfort so a maximum it ain't. Assuming it's measured correctly of course, see above. But Strava - well Strava uses a figure of 190, which would make me 30 years old and I'm close to completing 30 years second time around! HOWEVER that figure, when used with the data from my Fitbit, gives results for the extent of my effort which fit very well with what I would intuitively expect.

It's almost as if Strava (which gets my heart rate from my Fitbit) is using the data to estimate what Fitbit reading corresponds to my actual maximum heart rate. That would be very clever, and very useful, but their help pages don't indicate that. They say they work it out on age (which clearly they don't in my case) but there's also a statement that they've recently improved their heart rate calculations.

So is it possible they are estimating my maximum heart rate using the empirical data from my Fitbit and just haven't updated their FAQs to reflect that? Does anyone know how Strava works out maximum heart rate, given that it clearly isn't now by the method described on their website?

[Tbae]

Nothing boring about finding what you need.

I do not monitor🙈so cannot help.

There are many posts and replies on here on the subject.

Find one and follow the trail. Usually at the foot of a post there are further reading related posts.

Hope you find what your are looking for.

Atb. 💥🏃‍♂️💥

[ArthurJG Graduate10 in reply to Tbae]

Yes I think most of the posts I’ve seen say disregard the heart rate monitor for the reasons above: the figures aren’t that accurate for wrist worn devices and the maximum heart rate formula is too inexact. But if suddenly Strava had software smart enough to compensate for that, then I still wouldn’t believe the raw data but things like the effort scores derived from that data would suddenly become a lot more useful. For me it would probably determine whether the premium subscription is worth paying or not (I’m on the free month trial at present).

[Tbae in reply to ArthurJG]

Interesting and sensible.👍👏👏

I will be forever on free month trial.Premium never,not for a canny Scot.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙈😂

I do find the simple self awareness exertion of your own body reassuring.

Gosh, came across a quick shot of the Borg scale in a Niko,Niko video posted by Lordi over on Marathon and here I thought it was just a 1-10, not so, much more comprehensive than that.

Actually worth a look there,I think Lordi has posted on HR and much more.

Atb. 💥🏃‍♂️💥

[davelinks Graduate10]

This any good?

active.com/fitness/calculat...

[ArthurJG Graduate10 in reply to davelinks]

Thanks Dave but I’m asking specifically about how Strava works it out. I know the conventional formula and I know it’s not much help because it just gives an average based on age and none of us are average. Strava seems to be using my actual heart rate data to get an individual result - either that or it thinks I’m only 30, but I’ve told it I’m not.

[davelinks Graduate10 in reply to ArthurJG]

Works it out about the same Arthur, based on sex and your date of birth you've entered, have you entered it correctly?

Have seen this blog..

support.strava.com/hc/en-us...

[SlowLoris]

My highest recorded so far is 183 and I'm still alive. Age 30 is a somewhat distant memory. Run up a hill a few times and see what it goes up to. I think I'm still short of my maximum.

[MadDave]

Likewise I find the Fitbit isn’t that accurate, and like you have a high max heart rate for my age. I use a polar H7 chest strap which Strava picks up if I use it to record a run. It’s consistently more accurate than the Fitbit, which seems to ignore the H7, but at least I get an accurate heart rate measurement which I find helpful.