Heart Rate

Athlete vs. Normal Hearts

The average resting heart rate for adults is approximately 70 beats/min Slower heart rates are typically found in individuals who regularly exercise. Athletes are able to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body with resting heart rates as low as 50 beats/min. Athletes tend to develop larger hearts, especially the muscle in the left ventricle a condition known as "left ventricular hypertrophy." Because of their larger and more efficient hearts, athletes also exhibit other differences in their ECGs. For instance, low heart rate and hypertrophy exhibited in sedentary individuals can be an indication of failing hearts but these changes are "normal" for well trained athletes.