What is the difference between an athlete's heart rate and that of a normal person?
My physical examination ECG showed that my heart rate is lower than normal. The doctor said it's normal for athletes to have a lower heart rate. What is the difference between an athlete's heart rate and that of an average person?
Doctor's answer (1)
Significant differences in heart rate characteristics between athletes and the general population are mainly reflected in their performance at rest and during peak exercise.
The resting heart rate of the average adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, while that of professional athletes may be as low as 40 to 60 beats per minute, or even lower. Long-term systematic training has a positive impact on athletes' hearts, significantly optimizing ventricular function. The ventricular walls become relatively thicker, enhancing the heart's blood-pumping efficiency and increasing the volume of blood expelled with each heartbeat.
When athletes reach their maximum heart rate, they can sustain high-intensity exercise for longer periods and demonstrate superior oxygen utilization efficiency as well as a higher lactate threshold. During high-intensity exercise, their muscles can utilize oxygen more effectively for energy conversion, delaying the onset of significant lactate accumulation, which indicates an elevated lactate threshold.
These physiological advantages collectively result in a lower resting heart rate in athletes. These differences reflect cardiovascular adaptations acquired through long-term training.
