Monday, Dec 23rd

Polar Monitor Measures Heart Rates at Local Fitness Center

PolarMonitorIn June 2015, Jarek Szurlej, a personal fitness trainer at Total Form Fitness (TFF) located in Hartsdale, had a very frightening incident occur with one of his regular clients who is in his late 60's. With 10 minutes to go in a one-hour workout session, his client felt horrible and neither "walking it off nor taking a break" was relieving his shortness of breath. Jarek quickly recognized the situation for what is was and immediately brought him to the White Plains Hospital ER where the man was diagnosed with a heart attack. Ultimately a stent was installed to alleviate a blockage.

Six months later, after four months of monitored cardiac rehab, this client is back to the gym and working out multiple times a week with Jarek and the other trained professionals at Total Form Fitness. The client explained that the exercise physiologist at cardiac rehab calculated a maximal allowed heart rate range for him during exercise based on the results of the four-month course as well as from cardiac stress tests. "Upon my return to Total Form, I was happily surprised, and relieved, to see that the facility had installed Polar Flow wireless monitors and equipment to measure and keep track of my heart rate and percent of maximal allowed heart rate during the entire session. This has helped me return to regular and rigorous exercise with confidence."

The Polar monitor is available at TFF for anyone interested in utilizing it, but is being recommended to clients over a certain age, with a history of heart concerns, or with higher BMI's.
The trainers are able to calculate targeted heart rate ranges with performance activity for each individual to keep them in their appropriate training zone. " During every work out session, the trainer carefully monitors and adjusts each circuit to maintain the safe heart range indicated for that person and can then review it in real time or archive it to create an ongoing, easily accessible profile which can also be emailed to the client. In addition, TFF has implemented ongoing training so that their staff is further aware of the warning signs of consequential heart incidents related to exercise.

"After the heart attack, it is great to be back on track and going forward knowing that safeguards are in place," the client added.