Heart rate belts are heart monitoring devices that allow a user to get a real time measurement of their heart rate. Heart rate belts are popular among active and health-conscious people. A HR belt is a chest strap worn on the chest. This belt works in tandem with a receiver. The chest strap is fitted with a transmitter that sends real time data on the user’s HR to the receiver. The receiver is designed to be worn on the wrist and can double as a watch. New technologies in the telecommunications industry now allow for mobile phones to become receivers. This will now allow users to share their fitness information with others.
The transmitter device in the chest belt is able to count the number of times the individual’s heart beats per minute. The transmitter does this by checking for electrical current across the heart by way of electrodes that are in contact with the skin at the chest. After recording a heartbeat, the chest transmitter transmits a signal by radio or Bluetooth to the receiver. The receiving device then displays the rate at which the heart is beating. The signals sent are coded in newer models to prevent mixing up of data with similar nearby apparatuses.
The first ever wireless electrocardiograph (EKG) HR belt monitoring systems came out in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were designed as training support for athletes. The first schematics are still quite the same to today’s models, except for a couple of technological advances. It consisted of an electronic transmitter and a matching receiver. The transmitter was attached to the chest area by either the elastic electrode belt or through disposable electrodes. The receiver, on the other hand, was a monitoring device made to be worn as a wristwatch for the convenience of the user.
Modern receiver units have data transfer abilities. Among other new and exciting features include the total calories burned during exercising and average heart beat over a specified period. Data transfer makes it possible to download heart rate information onto a computer, allowing for better and easier monitoring and sharing over the Internet.radio strap
Many users over the years have claimed that HR belts are the most accurate of heart monitors. This is because of their strategic placement which is very near the heart, ensuring very accurate readings. It is worn right on the chest just below the bust line. Many fitness equipment companies recognize this and continue to design their products such as treadmills and others to adapt and work with the chest strap.
Being an electronic device, the HR chest belt is easily affected by electrical appliances, devices, and equipments such as television sets and computers if one gets too close. Electromagnetic radiation coming from motorized machines interferes with and disturbs in the process. Also, older and lower end models are susceptible to disturbances from other heart rate belts within a 3 feet (1 meter) radius.
Heart rate belts are made of either textile or elastic materials and special traction straps. Recently, a company introduced a garment for women that work very similarly to the heart rate belt. They assimilated sensors into the garment for detecting heartbeats. It then sends these to a receiver that is also worn at the wrist.