exercise tolerance test
exercise tolerance test
Patient care
A treadmill or ergometer is the typical testing device. The amount of exercise to be performed gradually increases over several minutesuntil the patient experiences excessive symptoms (e.g., fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, or claudication) or until objective findings of cardiopulmonary malfunction are demonstrated (e.g., arrhythmias, decreases in blood pressure, or ST-segment changes on the electrocardiogram).
Exercise tests are used most often to help diagnose symptoms or signs suggestive of coronary ischemia. They also are frequently used after patients have suffered a myocardial infarction or an exercise-induced arrhythmia. In these situations, the test may provide patients with important information about their likelihood of suffering further cardiac events or about the efficacy of their medical regimens in controlling their symptoms. When used in the evaluation of patients with cardiovascular disease, exercise testing is often combined with echocardiography or nuclear imaging of the heart to improve the predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of the assessment.
In sports medicine, exercise testing can be used to help athletes train to achieve peak performance.