Exercise Tests

Exercise Tolerance – CPET Testing 
Exercise Induced Bronchospasm
Formal Exercise for Desaturation
Distance Walk  

Exercise Tolerance – CPET Testing

This procedure is designed to evaluate your lung function, heart function and general conditioning during a period of incrementally increasing exercise. We typically perform this test on a bicycle.

Performing the test

1. You will be breathing on a mouthpiece during the test with nose clips in place.
2. Your oxygen level will be monitored throughout the test with an oximeter clip on your finger or ear.
3. Your heart response will be monitored with a series of EKG patches placed on your chest for a continuous monitoring of your heart.
4. Depending on your physicians order, we may place an arterial catheter in the radial artery (pulse site on your wrist).
5. Depending on your data, we may perform the test with supplemental oxygen.
6. The technologist will instruct, coach and encourage you with specific instruction throughout the test.
7. Also, a physician or exercise specialist will be present to monitor you throughout the test.

This test is scheduled for two and a half hours due to the preparation process. Actual time of the test varies from patient to patient, but you generally will be on the bicycle for 10 to 15 minutes total time.

How should you prepare for an exercise tolerance test?

EKG leads are placed to monitor the heart during exercise.

Exercise Equipment

Patient exercising while being monitored.

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Exercise Induced Bronchospasm

This test is designed to evaluate your reaction to exercise, specifically bronchospasm (asthma). This test is performed on a treadmill with progressively increasing speed and elevation.

Performing the test

1. In preparation for the test you will have EKG patches applied to your chest to monitor your cardiogram.
2. You will perform spirometry to access your lung function prior to the exercise.
3. And, you will have your oxygen level checked with a pulse oximeter with a sensor on the finger or ear.
4. Then you will be placed on the treadmill and exercise will start. The speed and elevation will gradually be increased to a level which you can maintain for several minutes, which causes your heart rate to increase to a predetermined level.
5. If your physician has ordered it, you may be required to breathe cold air through a mouthpiece during the exertion.
6. The test will be continued until you report symptoms of difficulty breathing, or until it is apparent that no reaction is imminent.
7. Following the exercise you will be required to perform spirometry at several intervals to evaluate any change in your lung function.
8. If you have a positive response (bronchospasm) to exercise, you will be given a breathing treatment (bronchodilator) and then perform spirometry again to access response.
9. The technologist will instruct, coach and encourage you with specific instruction throughout the test, and a physician or exercise specialist will monitor your EKG and blood pressure during the entire exercise.

This test may also be done with the patient breathing cold air and/or followed by a laryngoscopy. Plenty of time is scheduled for this test, as each patient requires varying amounts of time. Generally you will not be on the treadmill for longer than 10 to 15 minutes.

How should you prepare for an Exercise Induced Bronchospasm test?

Patient exercises on the treadmill to see if their airways will react.

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Formal Exercise for Desaturation

This test is done to determine the degree of oxygen desaturation and/or hypoxemia which occurs on exertion. The patient walks on the treadmill as their oxygen level is monitored by pulse oximetry. The test may be performed on different flows of oxygen to find the optimal titration of supplemental oxygen to keep the level of oxygen saturation at 90% or higher. The test may also be done with arterial blood gas sampling and/or EKG monitoring.

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Distance Walk

This test is done to measure the distance a patient can walk in 6 minutes. The patient will use the flow rate of oxygen that was determined during an oxygen titration walk. They will walk at their own pace with the technologist carrying their oxygen and keeping track of the time.

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