HEART RATE MONITORING (cont.)
Maintaining the Transmitter Belt
Clean the chest belt regularly with mild soap and water, then dry thoroughly — residual sweat and moisture keeps the transmitter active and will drain the battery in the transmitter. Do not use abrasives or chemicals such as steel wool or alcohol for cleaning, as they can damage the electrodes permanently. You can order replacement belts from StairMaster or your local fitness store.
Contact Heart Rate
The StairMaster® Treadmill exercise system features a digitized contact heart rate monitoring system. Through the use of stainless steel sensors built into the handle bar and using sophisticated software, heart rate can be checked at any time during a workout. The heart rate is displayed on the controller.
The contact heart rate system’s ability to detect a heart rate signal is influenced by several factors. Movement of the muscles of the upper body produces an electrical signal (muscle artifact) that will interfere with the detection of the heart rate signal by the sensors. Movement of the hands while they are in contact with the sensors also produces interference. Calluses and hand lotion act as an insulating layer to reduce the signal strength. Also, the EKG signal generated by some individuals is not strong enough to be detected by the sensors. These individuals should opt for the telemetry method of heart rate monitoring.
Contact heart rate input signals are acquired only during contact between your hands and the stainless steel sensors on the handrails. To use the contact heart rate feature, place your hands around the handles so that your hands touch both the top and the bottom of the sensors. After the initial contact heart rate signal is detected, the controller will enter a validation phase requiring a good heart beat signal within 10 to 15 seconds, or until the system acquires a valid signal. During the validation phase the controller will not recognize telemetry heart rate signals. The controller will display a heart icon. If, during exercise, the heart rate displayed is erratic, it may be helpful to remove your hands from the handles, wipe them and place them back on the handles. In all programs, the heart rate is shown automatically in the display window the first time the sensors are touched.
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