As a subject matter expert in exercise physiology, I can tell you that the
Karvonen formula is a widely used method to calculate an individual's target heart rate for exercise. It takes into account both the person's age and their resting heart rate to determine the appropriate intensity for their workouts.
The formula is as follows:
\[ \text{Target Heart Rate (THR)} = (\text{Heart Rate at Maximum (HRmax)} - \text{Resting Heart Rate (RHR)}) \times \text{Intensity} + \text{RHR} \]
Where:
- HRmax is typically estimated as 220 minus the individual's age.
- RHR is the individual's resting heart rate, which is the number of heartbeats per minute while at rest.
- Intensity is the percentage of the individual's heart rate reserve they wish to use during exercise.
For example, if a 30-year-old has a resting heart rate of 70 beats per minute and they want to exercise at 70% intensity, their target heart rate would be:
\[ \text{THR} = (220 - 30 - 70) \times 0.70 + 70 = 140 \text{ beats per minute} \]
This means that during exercise, they should aim to keep their heart rate around 140 beats per minute to stay within their target intensity.
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