Overview
Heart rate-monitored pacing utilises data collected by a wearable and your own body's signals.
Monitoring your heart rate can show you how hard your body is working during activities and give you a visual representation of this.
Combining data with how you feel can be validating, help you control your energy levels, and slow down or prevent crashes or flare-ups.
Alerts when you cross into your exertion zone help you understand when your body may need additional rest, so you can plan future activities with pacing in mind.
What is heart rate-monitored pacing?
Heart rate-monitored pacing uses data collected by a heart rate monitoring device and your own understanding of your body to pace more effectively. The data collexted provides you with a visual representation of your pacing and allows you to make adjustments based on the data collected.
Why is heart rate monitored pacing helpful?
High-accuracy wearable technology can help measure exertion and rest by using heart rate and movement data. By analysing this data, you can find and stay within your energy envelope.
Monitoring your heart rate can provide insight into how hard your body may be working during or after activities, help you monitor symptoms, predict and reduce the risk of future crashes, validate how you feel, and create a sense of independence or control.
How can alerts help my pacing?
Alerts act as your personal guide, signaling when you're crossing your anaerobic threshold and potentially over-exerting. Real-time notifications can help you consider slowing down or taking a break to reduce the chances of a crash.
These alerts can be helpful for two reasons:
Immediate Action: The moment you cross into your over-exertion zone, you can reduce your exertion or stop to rest, reducing the risk of a crash.
Increased Awareness: Regular alerts help you become more attuned to your body's limitations, enabling you to make better choices about your activities going forward.
The key aim of heart rate-monitored pacing is to help you balance your rest and activity so that you can do more with less. More information on this topic can be found here:
Workwell HRM Sheet (With the caveat that we don't use the same zones and thresholds as the Workwell Foundation)