1. Exercise Testing I. Physiological Testing
PT 362
2007

2. Physiological Exercise Testing
Benefits:
Provide information about strengths & weaknesses
To be used as a baseline data to plan exercise program,
Which area of weaknesses need improvement, &
Become a foundation for individual exercise prescription.
Provide feedback about effectiveness of training program:
Compare results of pre & post training program,
Evaluating the success of a training program.
Educate the tested about exercise, physical activity and health

3. Laboratory Exercise Testing Cont’d
Shortcomings:
Difficult to simulate real physiological & psychological demands.
(II) Should be considered as a reference standard with field tests used as primary and general assessment tools.

4. Laboratory Assessment of Physical Performance
Capacities (aerobic and anaerobic)
Energy output
Power output
Total Work output
(Performance)
Two principal approaches to assess physical performance:
1. field tests,
2. laboratory physiological assessment.
% Effort (psycology)
Efficiency (training,Environ).
Endurance(Stores,Train,Envir.)

5. Decision Tree in the Evaluation of type of CV Fitness Program.

6. Physical
Activity
Readiness
Questionnaire
(PAR-Q & YOU)

7. Graded Exercise Tests (GXT)
Assess cardiorepiratory fitness using treadmills, cycle ergometers, or stepping bench.
Incremental work rate that increases every 2 to 3 min until interrupted or when fatigue arises.
Variables measured during GXT: work, time, power,
Heart Rate (HR) - Blood Pressure - ECG
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) - VO2
GXT Protocols.
Can be submaximal or maximal.
Depend on population used (athletes, cardiac patients elderly or children).

9. GXT Protocols Cycle Ergometer
Selection
of Work
Rates For
Submaximal
Exercise
Tests

10. Termination
Criteria

11. Good
Poor
Approximate Average VO2max/Kg= (Age/4) ± 3

12. (VO2max/Kg)

13. RPE

14. Treadmill GXT Protocols Estimation of VO2 max.
(80 m/min)

15. Estimation of VO2 max Cycle Ergometer.
Estimation of VO2 max Cycle Ergometer

16. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Double Product = HR * SBP (systolic blood pressure).
Ability of the heart to function normally.
Arrhythmias:
Irregularities in normal electrical rhythm
Can be localized to atria, AV node or ventricle.
Conduction Disturbance:
Describe defect in depolarization (slow or blocked).

17. ECG Cont’d Myocardial Ischemia: ST Segment Depression:
Inadequate perfusion to myocardium relative to metabolic demand (angina pectoris).
ST Segment Depression:
Associated with myocardial ischemia.
Three types: up-sloping, horizontal, & down-sloping (the worse).

19. Field Tests Maximal Run: how far in a set time(12min)
or how long for a set distance(1600m).
Reasonable correlation with VO2max(R>0.8)
Natural activity, tests many, at low cost.
Useful to monitor progress of a subject.
Disadvantages:depends on motivation&efficiency, is not graded,physiol.responses not measured.
Calculate speed: distance(m)/time(min)
Estimate VO2peak/Kg= 0.2x Speed+ 3.5 (underestimates children, depends on fatness).

20. Field Tests
Walk tests: walk as fast as possible 1600m with HR monitored during last 400m. Measure time.
Calculate VO2max= (Kg BW)-0.388(Age,years)+6.3(1 male, 0 female) (Time for test)-0.157(HR bpm)
Good for sedentary subjects who do not run.
Good for monitoring individual progress

21. Field Tests:PACER
20 m shuttle run at increasing speed (smaller time intervals signaled by beeps) until the child cannot keep up. Number of 20 m laps completed are counted and used to estimate aerobic fitness.
Ref:

22. Field Tests
Canada Home Step Test: Step up and down 2- 20cm high steps at 14 full lifts per min (55-60% of max) for 3 min. Measure recovery heart beats (HB) in first 10 sec after end.
2d test at higher rate(65-70% of max):for example 18 lifts/min. Recovery heart beats in first 10 sec are measured again.If HB>set limit for age: needs improvement.
age 60s HB≥24 : poor. If < 2d test.HB≤22 OK
age 40s HB≥26 : poor. If <2d test. HB ≤ 23 OK
age 30s HB≥28 : poor. If < 2d test.HB ≤ 24 OK
age 10s HB≥30 : poor. If< 2d test. HB ≤ 26 OK
Ref: Canadian Med Asso J. 114:675, 1976