Rate response for running

Howdy

Are there any runners out there that know about rate response settings? My MD will only leave it at 4. Will I run better if it's set on 5? Is there any danger if it's set too high?

I ran a lot of marathons before my PM. I think the high altitude running damaged my heart.


Thanks

Jim Jim

4 Comments

Rate response

by golden_snitch - 2012-09-21 03:09:13

Hi!

Are you talking about the "level of activity" (0-5)? If so, and if your rate response follows the same logic as mine, a 5 would mean that you are very active, very well trained which leads to the rate response reacting a bit slower as people who exercise regularly have a lower heart rate when exercising than those who hardly ever exercise. So, in consequence, you would reach your upper rate limit much slower (if at all) than if you had it set at 2 or 3 for instance. How you run better that's something you have to find out. Have no idea why your cardio won't set it to 5, but it should not be up to him as he's not the one running with a pacer. So, he should just let you check it out, if it's better at 4 or 5. I have my level of activity set at "high", and only just started running (interval training, running 3 minutes then walking 3 minutes and so on). I get very close to my upper rate limit, 165bpm, and am already somewhere around 130-140bpm when I walk. So, I might need to get the rate response settings optimized, and am thinking of setting the level to "very high", so that my rate response reacts a bit slower.

May I ask what's your underlying rhythm problem? Heart block? Sick sinus?
I don't know any runners who really depend on their pacer's rate response. I know one who runs marathons, but he doesn't need the rate response as he has a heart block "only".

Good luck!
Inga

Rate responsive running

by parmeterr - 2012-09-23 08:09:14

Tried to post a comment last night but could not. I have been running on rate responsive the last few years and it has made a big difference. Before being changed the heart would only get to 80 or 90 beats a minute. Now it can get up to 140 or so beats per minute.

I went to Minneapolis and ran the 10 mile Medtronic run. The first time was on on demand pacing and the time was about 2 hours 45 minutes. After being changed to rate responsive, I went back last year and ran under 2 hours. Quite a difference. I still run 15 to 20 miles per week on my treadmill. Usually takes about an hour to complete 5 miles. Did 5 miles yesterday and my best mile was about 10:40. For someone who is about to turn 59 and all my heart problems, not too bad.

I also have complete heart block and sick sinus syndrome. Underlying heart rate is 20 in the atrials and 30 in the ventriculars. Also have had two ablations, one for AV nodal re-entry tachycardia and the other for atrial flutter. Also deal with dilated cardiomyopathy with an ejection fraction of about 35% plus. Do 50 mg of Coreg daily.

I have been on a pacemaker for more than 15 years now and when it was first implanted, I noticed a difference in my ability to run. It just was not the same. A pacemaker just does not mimic the heart completely. It is not the same. Just not as efficient.

My Cardiologist is well aware of my activity level and encourages my exercising. Do not know how he has my pacemaker set. He may have told me but I do not remember.

Just keep up the running. I believe that my running has kept my heart strong and has maintained my ability to function almost normally even with all my heart issues. The ideal is to keep healthy and fit, not time. Count your blessings.

The word is splendiferous. There is always sunshine above the clouds.

Richard

thanks for the info

by jimkirschvink - 2012-09-23 12:09:49

I have heart block, combined with a little sss. I had an ablasion for heart flutter about 5 months ago, and it helped a great deal with my stamina

I probably just need to train a little harder, then worry about my settings instead of blaming my settings from the start

Thanks for the info,I'm not sure if the rate response and the level of activity are the same thing......

JJ

Level of activity

by golden_snitch - 2012-09-24 02:09:38

The level of activity is one of the settings within the rate response settings - at least it was in my Medtronic pacer, and is now in my Sorin pacer.
Best
Inga

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