What is the Karvonen formula used for?

The Karvonen formula is utilized to determine target heart rate, which is essential for designing and monitoring cardiovascular training programs. This formula takes into account a person's resting heart rate and their maximum heart rate to calculate the heart rate range that should be maintained during exercise to achieve specific training goals.

To use the Karvonen formula, individuals first find their maximum heart rate, typically calculated as 220 minus their age, then subtract their resting heart rate from this value to find the heart rate reserve. From there, different percentages of the heart rate reserve are added to the resting heart rate to establish a target heart rate range that reflects the desired intensity of exercise—be it for fat loss, endurance, or cardiovascular conditioning.

Other options like calculating total cholesterol levels, estimating VO2 max, or assessing muscular endurance do not involve the mechanism of the Karvonen formula, as they pertain to different aspects of health and fitness assessment.