Max HR / Computed Max HR
bpm
Recorded or age-estimated maximum heart rate, used to define HR zone thresholds.
Typical optimal range 165 bpm - 195 bpm
Population median 180 bpm
Key factors
- Age
- Genetic predisposition
- Cardiovascular fitness level
What affects this metric
- Max heart rate declines gradually with age.
- Caffeine and heat can raise the peak reached in a session.
- A recorded maximum from a hard effort overrides the age estimate.
References
Peer-reviewed sources supporting the key factors, contributing factors, and typical optimal range shown above.
- Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR. Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2001;37(1):153–156. doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(00)01054-8
- Ostchega Y, Porter KS, Hughes J, Dillon CF, Nwankwo T. Resting pulse rate reference data for children, adolescents, and adults: United States, 1999–2008. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 11, No. 41. 2011. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_11/sr11_041.pdf
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician about your own results.