Lightfoot, T. and K. Stuart. Predicted and actual maximal heart rates of adolescents . Southeast American College of Sports Medicine, Auburn, Alabama, 1984.
The purposeof this study was to compare predicted maximal heart rate values of adolescent athletes derived from the age-related maximal heart rate formula with the actual maximal heart rates of adolescent athletes to check the appllicability of this age-related prediction formula with regard to adolescent athletes. Sixteen junior high athlete's, (mean age: 13.4 years), heart rates were monitored during maximal exercise to measure maximal heart rate. The values monitored were compared to predicted maximal heart rate values derived from the age-related maximal heart rate prediction formula, (220 - age of subject = maximal heart rate in beats per minute), by using a correlation matrix. When analyzed, the correlation coefficent, (-.397), was found to be lower than the p<0.05 level of significance, (±.400). therefore, it was concluded that no significant relationship, (inverse or direct), existed between the actual maximal heart rates and the values derived from the age-related maximal heart rate prediction formula. use of the age-related maximal heart rate prediction formula was meant to give approximate values for general exercise evaluations. however, this study showed that this age-related formula may not be applicable with regard to adolescent athletes. this fact may be due to training in the the athlete or to a general failure of the age-related formula to approximately predict maximal heart rate in the adolescent athlete. the results showed almost a negative correlation, whereas, for the age-related formula to be applicable in this study, a positive correlation would be favorable. this showed that the age-related formula was totally not acceptable in predicting maximal heart rate in adolescent athletes.