Dr. Mirkin on Maximum Heart Rate

I enjoy listening to, and reading articles by Dr. Gabe Mirkin who certainly doesn't pull any punches when he gives an opinion.

In this posting he lends some very interesting insight into the old 220-age formula for finding maximum heart rate. Now readers of this site should know that I would never be a fan of such a generic formula, and I know most of you are more sophisticated than this - but I love the story of where it comes from. I normally explain that the formula reflects averages and as such fits almost nobody - but to see where it really comes from - wow!

I should say that Dr. Mirkin's explanation of what drives maximum heart rate isn't too thorough either - he is an MD with a keen interest in sports but he is not a specialist or a physiologist. There is a lot more to it than leg strength!

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