Final answer:
To maintain optimal cardiac output and health benefits during aerobic exercise, individuals should aim for a target heart rate range of 120 to 160 bpm, which is safe and effective for most age groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Maximum Heart Rate for Aerobic Exercise
During an aerobic workout, it’s crucial to maintain a heart rate that optimizes cardiac output (CO) and provides maximum health benefits. The maximum heart rate (HR) for aerobic exercise in individuals can be estimated by subtracting the individual's age from the maximum value of 220 beats per minute (bpm). For instance, a 40-year-old would have a maximum HR around 180 bpm. However, for aerobic exercises, a target heart rate range between 120 and 160 bpm is recommended to ensure the heart and lungs receive maximum benefit while maintaining stable CO.
The physiological reason behind this is that during exercise, as HR increases, stroke volume (SV) may initially remain high even though less time is spent in diastole, but as HR continues to rise, SV might decrease due to less filling time, which can then lead to a decrease in CO at very high HRs. Hence, staying within the recommended target heart rate range is imperative during the aerobic segment of an exercise class to maintain efficiency and safety.