HRM issues

kschmi24

Hello! I use a heart rate monitor when I work out, which is mainly running but sometimes p90 or Zumba. Anyway, when I'm running, sometimes my HRM slows down to lower than my normal resting heart rate or it hits a 0. I usually have to pause and restart it a couple of times throughout the run. It is a pretty new HRM--a Polar FT4-- with a good battery, I think. I follow all the directions that it came with but I still have this problem nearly every time I run.

Is this a common thing? Do I have a bad product and need to return it? Or maybe the underwire on my bra messes with it (I wear a regular bra and a sport bra to keep the ladies in place as I'm a 38D). Does anyone have any insight on this?

Thanks for your help.

muzmacol

I have the same one, but with no problems at all, perhaps you should take it back.

mjclingan

You may not be getting good connectivity. I have an extremely hard time using a HRM as a lot of times it just says I have a 0 heart rate or it is getting no signal. You can try getting some electrode gel to increase your connection or if you have some KY at home, mix it with a little salt and apply to your skin. It makes a good conduction. If that doesn't help THEN it may just be the HR monitor not working. Hope that helps!

dad106

Two things:
Are you wetting the strap before using it and is the strap tight enough? If the answer to one of those is No, then thats what I would try and see if that fixes the problem.

Also have you washed the strap recently? All the sweat and salt can gunk up the electrodes if you don't wash it properly after about a week of using it.

kschmi24

I do wet the strap before I wear it and I believe it is tight enough but it does tend to slip down a tiny bit from my bra pushing on it, since I usually only have this problem when I'm running. I will try washing it more often and I just purchased some electrode gel to help. Thanks for the advice guys and gals! I'll try those things before I decide if I'm going to replace it.