Categories: Guide

What is the Difference Between HRR and HRmax

Table of Contents

The key difference between HRR and HRmax is that HRR is the difference between resting heart rate and maximum heart rate of a person, while HRmax is the fastest rate at which the heart will beat in one minute in a person.

Heart rate or pulse is the number of times the heart beats in one minute. This particular heart rate differs from person to person. It is lower when a person is resting and higher when a person is exercising. Knowing the way to find one’s pulse can help people to figure out their best exercise program. Moreover, if a person is taking heart medication, it is better to record the pulse daily and report the results to the family doctor, which can be helpful to learn whether the treatment is working. HRR and HRmax are two terms that are very important to determine whether the heart rate of a person is in the target zone (heart rate zone) while doing vigorous exercises. HRR stands for Heart rate reserve, while HRmax stands for heart rate maximum.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is HRR 
3. What is HRmax
4. Similarities – HRR and HRmax
5. HRR vs HRmax in Tabular Form
6. Summary – HRR vs HRmax

What is HRR?

Heart rate reserve (HRR) is the difference between resting heart rate and maximum heart rate of a person. It is also described as how much a person’s heart rate can speed up with exercise. This indicates the cardiovascular fitness of a person. The specific formula that is used by doctors to calculate the HRR is “HRR = HRmax – HRrest.”

HRR - beats per minute and exercise

Figure 01: Exercise work Zones and Heart Beat per Minute

When the HRR increases, the HRrest needs to drop. It is a very beneficial parameter that is calculated by athletes. This will ultimately enhance the performances of athletes. By a previous research study, it was identified that the heart rate reserve is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among young men. Therefore, HRR may be an extremely important exercise test parameter to predict CVD mortality in younger men in the future.

What is HRmax?

Heart rate maximum (HRmax) is the fastest rate at which the heart will beat in one minute in a person. If a person needs to take exercise performance to the next level, it is extremely important to figure out his or her target heart zone. Target heart zone is a great way to burn most of the calories and get the most out of the workout. A big part of that HR zone calculation involves the maximum heart rate (HRmax). Maximum heart rate can be varied from person to person.

HRmax vs Age Graph

Figure 02: Heart Rate vs Age

Knowing the HRmax can help people to track their fitness progress and determine their target heart rate zone. But it doesn’t mean that someone with a higher HRmax is in better shape than the others. This is because HRmax is not an indicator of physical fitness. HRmax depends on many factors such as age, altitude, fitness, genes, individual differences, and working out. Moreover, there are many formulas for calculating the maximum heart rate. However, the most studied one is “fox formula.” According to this formula, “HRmax = 220 – age of person”.

What are the Similarities Between HRR and HRmax?

  • HRR and HRmax are related to heart rate.
  • Both are very important for calculating the target heart rate zone.
  • They are beneficial for people to track their fitness progress.
  • Both are beneficial parameters for athletes.

    • What is the Difference Between HRR and HRmax?

    HRR is the difference between resting heart rate and maximum heart rate of a person. In contrast, HRmax is the fastest rate at which the heart will beat in one minute in a person. So, this is the key difference between HRR and HRmax. Furthermore, HRR is measured by the formula; HRR = HRmax – HRrest. On the other hand, HRmax is measured by the formula; HRmax = 220 – age of person.

    The following infographic summarizes the difference between HRR and HRmax in tabular form.

    Summary – HRR vs HRmax

    Heart rate zone is a way to monitor how hard a person is training. It is extremely important for athletes to increase their performance. HRR and HRmax are two terms that are very important to determine whether the heart rate of a person is in the target zone. Heart rate reserve (HRR) is the difference between resting heart rate and maximum heart rate of a person. On the other hand, heart rate maximum (HRmax) is the fastest rate at which the heart will beat in one minute in a person. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between HRR and HRmax.

    Reference:

    1. “Can You Sing While You Work out?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Aug. 2019.
    2. “A Guide to Age-Related Macular Degeneration.” All About Vision, All About Vision, 5 Mar. 2021.

    Image Courtesy:

    1. “Heart Rate vs Age” By Adrignola – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
    2. “Exercise zones” By Morgoth666 (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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