

Author Sally Edwards, in The Heart Rate Monitor Book, says "being the best isn't as important as being your best, and heart rate monitors can help you get there." For swimmers with heart conditions or those labeled "lap swimmer," the monitor keeps a close and accurate measurement of pulse during exercise. Kieren Perkins of Australia, current world-record holder in the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyles, uses a heart rate monitor in virtually all training sessions. HRMs can be beneficial for both the elite competitive swimmer and the recreational swimmer. market that can be used for swim training is made by POLAR CIC, Inc. The most widely used water-proof monitor on the U.S. A typical HRM consists of a wrist monitor, a chest band, and a sensor/transmitter that straps around the chest. Following the exercise, your heart rate can be plotted on a graph using computer software to show levels of exertion.

This device is capable of measuring your heart rate continually during the course of exercise. This method, however, proves to be impractical for most adult swimmers simply because of the expense and the advanced equipment required.Ĭurrently, the most practical method for measuring training effect is using a heart rate monitor (HRM). Testing the blood for lactic acid concentration has proven to be the most reliable method for determining the effect of training on our bodies. Likewise, endurance athletes in all sports have long been in search of a reliable monitoring system that would guide them to "smart" training. For years, American swimmers and swimming coaches have been asking the questions "How much is enough?" and "How much is too much?" Even today's adult fitness swimmers are in search of optimal training methods that will deliver the greatest physical benefits.
