Recovery heart rate is the drop in heart rate in the minute(s) after stopping exercise. A faster drop indicates better cardiovascular fitness and autonomic (parasympathetic) function. A one-minute recovery of 25+ bpm is excellent; under 12 bpm may indicate reduced fitness or, in some cases, increased cardiovascular risk. Recovery heart rate improves measurably with aerobic training and is one of the simplest fitness markers to track without equipment beyond a heart rate monitor or manual pulse check.
Key points
- HR drop in the minute(s) after exercise
- Faster drop = better cardiovascular fitness
- 25+ bpm one-minute drop is excellent
- Improves with aerobic training