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Heart rateStopwatch

Resting heart rate · Resting pulse

Purpose

Use this test to record your client's pulse at rest. Tracked over time, it is a simple check on fitness and heart health.

A lower resting heart rate is common in athletes. Medications such as beta blockers also slow it, so a change can come from either.

Procedure

Preparation
Your client sits or lies down, calm and feeling well. Measure before exercise: heart rate takes a while to return to rest afterwards.
Equipment
A watch or stopwatch

  1. Rest

    Your client sits or lies down and stays calm.

  2. Find the pulse

    Place your index and middle fingers lightly on the artery on the inner wrist. The inside of the elbow, the side of the neck and the top of the foot also work.

  3. Count for 60 seconds

    Count the beats for a full 60 seconds.

Scoring

The score is the number of beats counted in 60 seconds.

Interpretation

The American Heart Association describes resting heart rate for adults as below. The calculator shows the rate without a label.

Reference values

AHA resting heart rate for adultsAdults sitting or lying down, calm and feeling well · Adults · Men and women combined · Beats per minute · Pulse counted for 60 seconds at restAmerican Heart Association, All About Heart Rate (2024)
Resting heart rateAHA description
Under 60 bpmMay be bradycardia. Common in athletes and with some medications.
60 to 100 bpmNormal
Over 100 bpmMay be tachycardia. Not always a sign of a problem.

Sources

Sources checked by SoloTrainer.net · 25 Sep