Apps can be helpful for amateur athletes

Using the smartphone while running heart rate measure

12/10/2013

So far, many athletes have tracked their heart rate while running or cycling through a chest belt. With a heart rate monitor, the disturbing straps can become superfluous.

Running involves health problems
Running can cause significant health problems. According to a study by the AOK from the previous year, two-thirds of all joggers endanger their health by running instead of benefiting. Especially by overexertion caused by the recreational runners exhaustion, fatigue and fatigue. It threatens muscular discomfort and cardiovascular problems. Especially if one's own physical limits are regularly exceeded during jogging and massive recreational conditions occur after the recreational sport, then an unfavorable running profile with negative health consequences can be assumed, explained Professor Henning Allmer from the Cologne Institute for Applied Health Sciences.

Omit disturbing chest strap with new heart rate monitor
One way to avoid straining too much is to measure your heart rate during exercise. So far, most runners have resorted to a chest strap, which transmits the heart rate to a special wristwatch via a transmitter. Alternatives that can do without a belt, are not suitable for many athletes, because these products, the pulse is measured only at the touch of a button and this only at low speed or standstill. The new heart rate monitor Alpha from Mio Global, however, does without the annoying chest strap, as well as without measuring at reduced tempo.

According to Stiftung Warentest convincing
Mio Alpha replaces the strap by measuring heart rate at the wrist. The clock must be firmly seated on the arm for a correct measurement as there is a sensor on the back of the clock. Bluetooth is used to establish contact with a smartphone, where an app is responsible for recording the data. The data displayed on the watch itself is the current heart rate, exercise duration and time. Although the pulse watch costs about 200 euros, but convinced, according to Stiftung Warentest after a quick test. Among other things, she had to compete against the ECG measurement in the test laboratory, the deviations were small.

Sleep earlier and become more active
Another device, the Withings Pulse pedometer, is not just a heart rate monitor, range and altimeter in one, but also offers a sleep cycle analysis. Also the consumed calories are displayed. The general recommendation to make 10,000 steps a day is easy to follow. In addition, the product can tell when to fall asleep and wake up again. Sleep interruptions would also be recognized and counted. Thanks to all the data, it is easy to see whether one should not go to bed earlier or become more active. (Ad)