AFAA Personal Trainer Certification 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Karvonen formula is specifically designed to calculate an individual's target training heart rate, which is essential for optimizing cardiovascular workouts. This formula takes into account the person's resting heart rate and maximum heart rate, allowing for a more personalized target that can enhance the effectiveness of cardiovascular training.

By using this formula, fitness professionals can help clients train at an intensity that promotes cardiovascular fitness while considering their current fitness levels and resting heart rate. It is widely used in exercise programming to ensure that individuals are working within their appropriate training zones for various fitness goals, such as endurance or fat burning.

The other options do not pertain to the purpose of the Karvonen formula: body fat percentage calculations involve different methodologies, while basal metabolic rate calculations estimate calorie needs at rest, and maximum oxygen uptake typically requires more complex assessments involving VO2 max testing.