Maximum Heart Rate 'missing' from User Profile - Feature Request

Hi,

The new devices/firmware has a User Profile setting for Maximum Heart Rate.

It would be good if this was included in the UserProfile like restingHeartRate as it's technically needed alongside the HR Zone Bands, especially if they are defined by Max Heart Rate.

Note: This is different to Max Heart Rate on an Activity, which is currently available; as this is calculated for a User based on Age/Gender.

Thoughts?

Cheers
Chris

Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm not sure I understand why the running MHR would not be equal to the MHR you seek?

chrishares over 8 years ago

I'm not sure I understand why the running MHR would not be equal to the MHR you seek?

Hi sharkbait,

The MHR in Activity.Info is the maximum heart rate for that activity. So for example, if I go for a brisk walk my MHR will only reach 90-100bpm. If I go for a cycle it could be 145bpm. However as person I have a theoretical MHR, which Garmin has previously used a simple 220-age, which could be 185bpm.

Nowadays, more complex calculations are being used to determine your MHR which can include age, gender and fitness, and this is being stored by the watch. Currently my Vivoactive shows my Heart Rate Bands by percentages of my MHR, so my top zone is 90-100%. Now this is calculated by my watch but the API gives me back the same data as 166-185bpm as my top band.

Now I could assume the persons MHR is the top of the top band - however if I edit the top band to be 90-105% then my MHR will not be the top of that band.

So in summary, if the watch sets the Heart Rate Band data by percentage of MHR, but passes to the developer as bpm, it would be useful to know that MHR used.

Cheers
Chris

Former Member over 8 years ago

105% of maximum HR is actually an impossibility. Will Garmin allow you to set a value above 100%?

chrishares over 8 years ago

105% of maximum HR is actually an impossibility. Will Garmin allow you to set a value above 100%?

The concept of 105% is impossible, but if the calculation is incorrect/inaccurate (especially true as the standard is 220-age, and this takes no account of gender) then the device can possibly encounter this situation.

It still doesn't change the fact, the user can set their own HR Max on the watch, and it would be useful to know this - so the percentage can be calculated.

Former Member over 8 years ago

I know it's not definitive, but I would expect using the last array value from user profile for running to be suitable for both those users who know what their zones are, and those who don't. In the first case they would have been set correctly, in the second case you're not going to get a better estimate. No?

chrishares over 8 years ago

The problem is you don't know if they've changed the bands or not. As the Bands come through the API as Heart Rate values (not percentages), you don't know what percentages they are, as you cant see the Maximum used.

It is impossible to calculate the Users Heart Rate Maximum (to the value they've set), without having access to it.

Former Member over 8 years ago

No, you don't. But if they haven't changed them then the last value will be 100%. If they have changed them, and they are wrong, then isn't there equal chance their maximum hr value would be incorrect to?