Abnormal Heart Rate Readings During Exercise

If your training computer constantly displays too low heart rate readings, check if you have set the device to display heart rate in percentages of your maximum heart rate (HR%) instead of beats per minute (HR). Most Polar training computers include this option. Instructions can be found in the user manual.

Polar heart rate sensor measures the signal electrically from the chest. This is where the signal is the strongest. The type of the electrically measured signal slightly varies from person to person. The electrically measured signal strength can depend on chest form, the anatomical location and position of the heart, position of the electrodes, and the amount of body fat. If the electrically measured signal is weak, the signal can get disturbed more easily. To ensure accurate detection (needed before measuring is possible) the contact between skin and electrodes needs to be constant. To ensure good contact:

• Moisten the electrode areas of the heart rate sensor. At the beginning of the exercise session your skin may be dry and the moisture will help ensure better contact. When you start to sweat the contact will improve because the salt in the sweat conducts the electrical signals very well. If your elastic strap has plastic electrodes, saliva is a good conductor as well. If the strap has textile electrodes, it is essential that you moisten them thoroughly under the tap water before exercise.
• Tighten the elastic strap. If the strap is loose, the movement of the electrodes will disturb electrically measured signal detection. If the standard-size strap does not fit satisfactorily, larger and smaller straps are available as accessories.
• Try different sensor positions to find the best for you. If the signal is weak when the sensor is placed right under pectorals (recommended position), move the sensor left or right, lower or higher to find the best signal. There are known cases where heart rate is detected better when sensor it is turned Polar logo upside down and facing out, or even when attached on the back.
• In demanding cases, if your strap has plastic electrodes, use conductive electrode lotion or gel to improve the contact. After using lotion or gel, it is very important to wash the heart rate sensor carefully. If your strap has textile electrodes, do not use conductive lotion or gel as it can block the electrode areas.
• Try shaving a small area on your chest. Hairy chest may weaken contact. If you cannot find your heart rate signal by positioning sensor differently or with using conductive gel (only for plastic electrodes), shaving a small area for better conductivity may help.

To ensure good heart rate signal detection, keep the heart rate sensor clean. Proper care of the heart rate sensor after every use ensures longer sensor life.

To avoid erratic readings, move away from possible sources of disturbance. Sensor signal may be affected by electromagnetic disturbances caused by:

• high-voltage power lines
• overhead lines of electric railways
• electric bus or tram lines, televisions
• traffic lights
• car motors
• bike computers
• cellular phones
• mp3 players
• electric security gates
• exercise equipment with electronic components. See troubleshoot here.

The maximum transmission range between the heart rate sensor and the training computer is 1 meter/ 3 ft. Make sure you keep within this distance. If the distance gets longer, the training computer may not receive all the heart rate signals from the heart rate sensor and, as a result, show the same heart rate for a long time. Transmission errors are more likely to occur in sports where the distance between sensor and training computer exceeds the 1 meter/ 3 ft transmission range either permanently or frequently, such as rowing, biking.

H9, H10 and T31C heart rate sensors use GymLink transmission. The transmission range of all GymLink Polar heart rate sensors is 1 meter/ 3 feet.

• When using a coded heart rate sensor (H9, H10 or T31C), pay special attention at the beginning of the exercise to be outside the 1 meter/ 3 feet range from other coded Polar heart rate sensors. Your training computer codes the heart rate signal at the start of every exercise. If other signals are available at the time, the coding may lock onto another person's signal rather than yours. To ensure succesful heart rate measurement, start your training session away from other training computer users.

If air humidity is low or you are exercising in windy conditions (for example high-speed road racing), a fluttering shirt may rub the heart rate sensor and generate static electricity. This causes additional signals, especially if the contact between skin and heart rate sensor is poor. To avoid this:

• Moisten the electrodes before use or, if your strap has plastic electrodes, you can use conductive lotion or gel.
• Use a cotton shirt instead of a synthetic shirt.
• Use a tighter shirt to avoid fluttering of the material.
• Use the heart rate sensor on a wet shirt.
• Try placing the heart rate sensor slightly to the left.

Polar products are not designed to detect arrhythmia or irregular rhythms and will interpret them as noise or interference. In most cases the Polar training computers work fine for persons with cardiac arrhythmia, but in some cases (many abnormal heart beat intervals) arrhythmia may cause incorrect heart rate readings.

If the battery of the heart rate sensor is running low, the transmission range decreases and may cause errors similar to the ones listed above in this document. For more information, see Battery Empty in the Polar Heart Rate Sensor.