What happens to maximal heart rate (MHR) with regular exercise training?

Regular exercise training leads to adaptations in cardiovascular function, but maximal heart rate (MHR) does not significantly increase as a result. In fact, studies have shown that MHR tends to remain relatively stable or may decrease slightly with age, rather than being notably affected by regular training. This is because MHR is largely determined by age and intrinsic physiological factors, rather than by the level of fitness achieved through exercise.

As individuals engage in consistent aerobic training, other parameters like stroke volume, cardiac output, and overall cardiovascular efficiency improve, enabling them to perform at higher intensities without necessitating an increase in MHR. This distinction is important as it emphasizes that while regular exercise enhances overall cardiovascular fitness and endurance, it does not change the fundamental limits of heart rate as it is primarily influenced by age-related biological factors.