an oximeter measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. Oximeters detect your pulse rate so you could use them when exercising depending on the exercise. The oximeter attaches to your finger and so you might not be able to use it when the exercise involves both hands.

A better option in my opinion is to learn how to take your pulse rate. If you want to buy something then a chest strap with a watch hr monitor will in my opinion give you more useful data. You can also set an alarm if your hr exceeds a certain level.

Hope this helps

opsyn

I've read you can't get hung up on the exact number and to go by how you feel... your breathing. petey

My cardiologist and family doctor use an oximeter to measure my heart rate. In my experience the oximeter heart rate is within few points from the number delivered from a blood pressure cuff monitor, a portable ecg, or a watch. Occasionally the first measurement delivered by my oximeter is weird, but the following ones are consistent and reliable. My oximeter is a cheap cms 50dl, $20 at Amazon.

I have the following oximeter from ConCord Health http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029YEVMI/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It works pretty well, I've had it since 8/2010. It was a lot more money three years ago. When I'm in Afib, the heart rate bounces all over the place on this meter. We have an Omron blood pressure meter that seems to do better with the irregular heart rate. http://www.amazon.com/Omron-Series-Upper-Pressure-Monitor/dp/B004H4B3VK/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1377466443&sr=1-4&keywords=omron+blood+pressure+monitor. However, using a BP meter is a lot more involved than the finger Oximeter. Cuff and all.