Estimation of maximal heart rate in recreational football: a field study

PURPOSE: To examine the accuracy of practical indirect methods (i.e., recreational football match and estimation equations) in assessing individual maximal heart rate (HR max) in recreational football players. Sixty-two untrained male participants engaged in a recreational football intervention (age 39.3 ± 5.8 years, VO 2max 41.2 ± 6.2 ml·kg -1·min -1, body mass 81.9 ± 10.8 kg, height 173.2 ± 6.4 cm) were tested for HR max using a multiple approach, at baseline and post-intervention (i.e., in the untrained and trained status, respectively). Observed HR max was plotted against peak match HR (Match-HR peak) and HR max estimated from prediction equations (EstHR max) at both time-points.

RESULTS: In the untrained status, only the 211 - 0.64 × Age and 226 - Age equations showed non-significant (medium-to-small) differences with observed HR max. The differences between observed HR max and Match-HR peak were large (P < 0.0001). At post-intervention, the observed HR max (Post-HR max) was significantly and largely lower than at baseline. The prediction equations under consideration provided EstHR max values that were lower than Post-HR max, with small-to-large differences (P > 0.05). The exception was for the 226 - Age and 211 - 0.64 × Age equations, with values largely higher than Post-HR max.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests caution when considering EstHR max and Match-HR peak in recreational football interventions to track HR max. The accuracy of EstHR max may vary according to training status, suggesting the need for different approaches and equations across training interventions.