3 replies to this topic

[samantha miss]

Hi there,

Just got us a great Motomed, and just wondering what should my partners heart rate be around while working out? He is classified as a C2 and has not exercised nor had rehab since his accident (about 16 months ago).
His resting heart rate is around the 50s...
We are just happy to be exercising but would like an idea of what to aim for to help with some weight loss if possible?

Little bit of a tricky one.....

Thanks in advance

[russ1]

Heart rate in high level SCI is a complicated and not very well studied. You're probably much better using a perceived effort scale where to burn fat he should be working moderately hard, then possibly see what the heart rate is and work it out yourself. If his autronomic system is affected this will effect his ability to raise his heart rate and normal heart rates for exercise levels will not apply. My max heart rate now seems to be about 130 or 140 (was 200 pre SCI) and decent exercise seems to raise it to 120 to 130 (160 to 180 pre SCI) but that's me and he will likely be different.

At the end of the day if he wants to lose weight it's a very simple equation - if you burn more calories than you consume you lose weight and if you consume more than you burn you gain weight. So any exercise burns calories and will help the balance of the consume/burn equation.

[Tetracyclone]

Having received no therapy he is in an unknown situation. That equals danger. Start slow and work up as long as he feels it makes him feel better, over time. Do it for health, and eat less for weight loss.

[wheeels]

If he is just starting out then you don't need to worry about heart rate.

Being that he is just starting out the best thing to do it just get him exercising for at least an hour a day if possible, you get a better fat burn at a lower heart rate over a long period of time, but as russ1 said heart rate in a SCI can vary a lot.

Weight control really is more about diet I would say 90% or higher, so watch the food more for weight loss and exercise more for general health.