I swim for an hour three times a week. Not quickly, but steadily. I think this is better for my heart. (I’ve had cardioversion for atrial fibrillation, I’m on blood thinners and heart rate slowdowns.) Is this the case? I’m afraid of getting out of breath.
Inge
Mark Chen, physiotherapist
Hi Inge,
I would recommend that you do some training with a certified trainer (for example NASM, where I followed my Personal Trainer training myself). A qualified coach can help you learn to train on heart rate. Simply put, that means learning how exercise puts stress on your heart.
Here’s a simple explanation:
Your maximum heart rate can be calculated in the following way: 220 age. In my example, that’s 220-33 = 187 Beats per minute.
As long as I keep training at a level of 60-80 percent of this ‘maximum heart rate’, that is a relatively low load and should not cause any problems. From 80 percent and higher, that becomes a different story. Together with an experienced trainer you can experience this to get an idea where your heart rate level is. It is also worth considering looking for a sports medical advice center. These centers involve a sports doctor who is specialized in this type of problem. Think of it as a kind of APK inspection for your body. Very handy and often insured too.
I can recommend TRIAS Physiotherapy if you are considering this step. I have worked with them for years and I can assure you that you are in good hands there.
I hope this helps.
Mark
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Mark Chen is a physiotherapist and NASM trained personal trainer. Since August 2014 he has been working in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. His expertise lies in analyzing and optimizing movement patterns. Dry needling and medical taping are an important part of his vision and training predominates.
