1b Exercise Capacity

Question 1

Exercise limitation can be caused by deficits in several systems… (4)

Answer 1

• Neurological (e.g. motor control, coordination)
• Respiratory (e.g. ability for lungs to ventilate, for pulmonary perfusion, for gases to exchange between lungs and blood)
• Cardiovascular (e.g. ability for heart to receive blood from lungs and to pump to working muscles)
• Muscular (e.g. local perfusion, muscle cell enzymes)

Question 2

What are three ways of measuring exercise capacity in clinical setting?

Answer 2

Cardiopulmonary Exercise test
6-minute walk test
Incremental Shuttle Walk Test

Question 3

What is involved with the cardiopulmonary exercise test?

Answer 3

• Uses a cycle ergometer or treadmill
• Intensity is incremental
• Undertaken under close clinical
  supervision in a controlled
  environment

Question 4

What is measured in the cardiopulmonary exercise test?

Answer 4

ECG, ventilation, O2 and CO2
routinely measured

Question 5

What is the primary output of the cardiopulmonary exercise test?

Answer 5

Peak VO2 usually the primary outcome

Question 6

What is involved in the 6-minute walk test?

Answer 6

Uses a 20-30 m flat course (e.g.
corridor)

Objective is the cover the greatest distance as possible

Question 7

What is the primary output of the 6-minute walk test?

Answer 7

Primary outcome is total distance walked in six minutes

Question 8

What is involved in the incremental shuttle walk?

Answer 8

Uses a 10 m circuit
* Externally paced by an audio
recording (like bleep test)
* Each minute has one extra
length than the previous
minute (e.g. minute 1 = 3 lengths of
20s; minute 2 = 4 lengths of 15s)

Question 9

What is the output of incremental shuttle walk test?

Answer 9

primary outcome is the total distance walked before the volitional end

Question 10

What can help to improve exercise capacity?

Answer 10

Supplemental Oxygen

Question 11

What is one of the most common respiratory disease which limits exercise?

Answer 11

COPD - key symptom is breathlessness, especially during activities of daily life

Question 12

What are the advantages of using a cycle over a treadmill for the cardiopulmonary exercise test?

Answer 12

Isolates the muscle group so easier to get results

Also more safe when it comes to the end of the test

Question 13

What are the benefits of the cardiopulmonary exercise test over other tests?

Answer 13

can test in all the states of exercise - continual measurements
Reproducable figures

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of the cardiopulmonary exercise test?

Answer 14

Needs specific staff to operate the machinery and staff in order to operate the test