Cardiofréquencemètre : son utilité!

Not long ago, training was pretty simple. If you wanted to go for a jog, you’d just lace up your shoes and hit the pavement or trails. For hiking, you’d grab an old 2-liter water bottle—and that was it. Checking your heart rate? Easy—just place two fingers on your carotid artery and count.

Then came accessible fitness technology. As sports science progressed, researchers began studying how the heart behaves under physical effort. They found that training in different intensity zones could significantly improve athletic performance. That’s when the first heart rate monitors hit the market—and they've been evolving ever since.

Today, there’s a model for virtually every sport. But who are these high-tech gadgets for? Do they actually work? And which one should you buy? Read on—you’ll likely find answers to those very questions.

Tracking Heart Rate: The Basics

As the name suggests, a heart rate monitor tracks your heart rate in real time (or almost). The most popular models used to include a chest strap that transmitted your HR to a wristwatch. Simple enough, right?

Nowadays, most models measure heart rate directly from your wrist using optical sensors—making the chest strap nearly obsolete. And these little devices have evolved dramatically. Many now show calories burned during your workout, which can be eye-opening for those who think they’re burning more than they actually are.

A growing number of models now include built-in GPS to track your pace and distance while walking or running. Touchscreens and Bluetooth connectivity are now standard, letting you sync data with your smartphone (though some may question whether that’s truly necessary).

Is It Really Useful?

That depends on your goals. If your phone feels like an uncontrollable monster, you might be better off with a traditional watch or a basic heart rate monitor that tracks just your HR and calories burned.

But if you’re serious about your cardiovascular fitness, weight management, or athletic performance, then a heart rate monitor could be a valuable tool. Understanding your training zones and following a customized training plan can help you improve faster and reach your goals more efficiently.

Personally, I use a heart rate monitor for about 75% of my workouts. The other 25%? That’s when I’m just out to have fun—no tracking, no pressure.

In the end, even though these devices keep getting more advanced, always remember: the key to any workout won’t come from a gadget—it comes from deep inside you. And it’s called motivation.

By Jimmy Sévigny, B.Sc. in Physical Activity
jimmysevigny.com