Heart Rate Monitors

I was just at a hotel, using the treadmill because there was complimentary exercise room. I realized that because I was holding onto the bars of the treadmill (I don't usually use these machines, so I wanted to hold on in case I tripped), the treadmill was keeping track of my heart rate. I thought maybe the treadmill was using an electric current to track this, so, thinking of my pm, I let go of the bars. Of course by doing this, the treadmill suddenly detected no heart rate and started "freaking out," slowing down, and eventually stopping completely.

My question is, I know that people with a pm are not supposed to go on the fat analysis type scale with electric current, but is the heart rate monitor on treadmills, or even those smart watches and exercise monitor bracelet things OK (i.e., what kind of technology do they use and is it safe for the pm)?

3 Comments

Yeah, they're OK

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-15 03:11:00

After the trauma I went through plus the installation of the PM I had to go through cardio rehab. They really didn't have to make me, I needed the rehab to get back to a somewhat "normal" existence. Anyway....

Used the monitors on all the exercise equipment. In fact the nursing staff used the monitors on the equipment plus the attached heart monitors to check what was going on. Absolutely no problems using them.

In fact I used to sit on the bike system and watch both the exercise machine readings and the medical heart monitor readouts at the same time. They both would match on my heart speed but the medical monitor would show my pacing. They had the voltage set up on my PM at the time and you'd see the big spike when the PM kicked in. Kinda reassured me the PM was working as it should.

Keep up the exercise. It really helps your heart. Hope everything continues to go well for you.

Heart Rate Monitor on Treadmill

by Runningmama - 2014-11-15 03:11:42

I have not been back on my treadmill yet since PM so I'm glad you asked, I needed to know as well. Does anyone know how accurate the heart rate monitor on the treadmill is? I have never really used mine, never had any cause to much before the pacemaker....

IMO

by Marie12 - 2014-11-15 07:11:53

the heart rate monitors on treadmills are not very accurate. I use the same style heart rate monitor as I did in cardiac rehab and I have yet to find a treadmill (mine included) that reads the same as my monitor. Even when I don't wear the monitor, the one on the treadmill is way out of whack. I have a Nordic Track treadmill.

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.