Within 10 minutes after exercise, the heart should be at its normal, resting rate. According to WebMD, the heart slows down by 12 beats per minute or more each minute, which translates into a drop of at least 120 beats per minute in the first 10 minutes after exercise.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the normal resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. With a maximum-intensity workout, the heart rate can raise to 220 minus age, which translates to 200 beats per minute for individuals in their 20s or 170 beats per minute for individuals in their 50s, the American Heart Association explains.
