Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate-work rate relationship in aerobic and anaerobic regions of incremental exercise test to determine effective heart rate response.

Materials and Methods: Total of 37 sedentary male subjects performed an incremental exercise test (15W/min). During exercise, heart rate was measured using a polar heart rate watch and respiratory parameters were measured using a spirometry. The change in metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic, i.e. anaerobic threshold (AT) was determined using minute ventilation to work rate relationships. Paired t-test was used for the statistical analysis and p<0.05 was accepted as significant

Results: During test, from resting to warm-up period, heart rate increased as 30% (79.8±1.4 beat/min - 104.2±1.9 beat/min). Heart rate between warm-up period and AT (i.e. aerobic exercise region) increased as 42% (104.2±1.9 beat/min - 148.3±2.1 beat/min). Heart rate at W_max (189.7±1.9 beat/min) increased 82% compared to warm-up period and increased 27% compared to AT. The work rate heart rate ratio in aerobic exercise region was averaged 2.3±0.08, and it decreased 1.9±0.07 (18%) in anaerobic exercise region (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The relationship between heart rate and work rate during an incremental exercise test can change with related to metabolism, and heart rate efficiency decreased in anaerobic exercise. Thus this value could be used as important criteria to evaluate the person who has low aerobic capacity.