Polar Heart Rate Monitor Instructions

Polar Heart Rate Monitor Instructions

Polar heart rate monitors are certainly becoming increasingly popular nowadays because of the renewed interest in endurance activities/sports like walking, running and cycling.

Even strength training enthusiasts can benefit from consistently using heart rate monitors in order to accurately measure their cardiac rate during active sets. Measuring your heart rate during a workout is critical because it  allows you to determine your optimum recovery period.

Your personal recovery period is different from the recovery period of your friend or gym buddy, because all individual bodies are built differently. People who have regular sessions of sports like cycling and tennis would typically have lower heart rates during a workout when compared to someone who has just started out in the gym.

This shouldn't discourage you at all, because over time your own cardiorespiratory endurance will improve- as long as you keep training yourself.

There are many types of Polar heart rate monitors, but the same operating principles apply to all of them. Some models have additional features, but the basic features are present within the entire line of Polar heart rate monitors.

So in essence, it doesn’t matter whether you have a basic monitor or a more expensive one, because the functions are more or less operated in the same way. If you have already purchased a Polar heart rate monitor and you are ready to use the device, here is a step by step set of instructions on how to do so.

The first thing that you have to do is to attach the strap to the transmitter module. After firmly attaching the straps, find the electrodes or contact points of the heart rate monitor and moisten these contact points with water.

This is extremely important – if the electrodes are not moistened, the heart rate monitor may not work properly. When you attach the heart rate monitor, the logo should be facing you.

Regular straps can stretch up to 6 inches in length, while larger straps can stretch up to 54 inches. Slightly shorter straps that are designed for the chest, on the other hand, can be stretched up to 32 inches. The biggest straps are designed for individuals who weigh up to 240 pounds.

The Polar heart rate monitor has two parts – the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter is the device that you place around the chest, and  the receiver displays your heart rate. Place the receiver near the transmitter on your first use.

This will reset the device and will prompt both modules to begin calculating and displaying your current heart rate. Note that there will be a small heart symbol on the receiver’s display.

If the heart symbol flashes regularly, then you are obtaining an accurate reading of your heart rate. However, if the heart symbol is flashing erratically or irregularly, then the electrodes or contact points may need additional moistening.

If you have a Polar heart rate monitor that has an alarm feature, you can set a daily alarm by pressing both buttons on the receiver simultaneously. After doing so, you can press either the left button or the right button to adjust the time and to enable/disable this feature.