Week 8: Submax Testing in Lab Flashcards
Submax Tests in the Lab (3)
- 6-minute walk test (6MWT)
- Astrand-Rhyming Cycle Ergometer Test
- Single-stage Sub-maximal Treadmill Walking Test (SSTWT)
6-minute walk test (6MWT)
-The 6MWT has been primarily used to assess individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure and healthy older and elderly populations.
-Widely considered a measure of functional status that represents the capacity to carry out ambulatory activities of daily living.
-Standardized protocol
-May be max for low fitness/severe disease, yet it can produce a ceiling effect for others
-< 300 m = poor short-term survival
Advantages:
-Simple, inexpensive test
-Corresponds to a functional activity of daily living
-It can be used with a wide population with a variety of diagnoses
-Standard time rather than a predetermined distance may provide a better test of
endurance
-Allows participants to set their own pace and stop if necessary
Disadvantages:
-Requires 2 practice tests
-Inability to monitor BP during test
Notes:
-No warm-up required
Client preparation:
1. Comfortable clothing
2. Appropriate shoes for walking
3. The client should use their walking aid during the test (e.g., cane, walker, etc.) if applicable.
4. A light meal is acceptable before early morning or early afternoon tests
5. The client should not have exercised vigorously within 2 hours of beginning the test
Single Stage Submaximal Treadmill Walking Test (SSTWT):
Advantages:
-Suitable for people with various diagnoses
-Familiar activity
-Single stage
Disadvantages:
-Based on HR therefore, factors that affect HR must be controlled
Notes:
-4 minute warm-up at 0% grade and walking speed to bring HR to 50-70% of HR max
Client preparation:
-Be wearing comfortable clothing
-hydrate with fluids before the test
-avoided alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine within 3 hours of the test
-avoided strenuous exercise on the day of the test
-have an adequate sleep the night before the test
Astrand-Rhyming Cycle Ergometry Test
Advantages:
-Set pedal rate (50rpm) and predetermined workload
-Short test
Disadvantages:
-Underestimates VO2 for men
-Overestimates VO2 for women
-May be limited by LE discomfort rather than CV status
Notes:
-3 minute warm-up, 0kg resistance, 50 rpms
-Client preparation:
-Be wearing comfortable clothing
-hydrate with fluids before the test
-avoided alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine within 3 hours of the test
-avoided strenuous exercise on the day of the test
-have an adequate sleep the night before the test
Conditioning:
-Men, unconditioned: 300 or 600 kg ∙ m ∙ min−1 (50 or 100 W)
-Men, conditioned: 600 or 900 kg ∙ m ∙ min−1 (100 or 150 W)
-Women, unconditioned: 300 or 450 kg ∙ m ∙ min−1 (50 or 75 W)
-Women, conditioned: 450 or 600 kg ∙ m ∙ min−1 (75 or 100 W)
The Astrand protocol requires the following for test completion
-You need to obtain HRss from the test with the fifth- and sixth-minute HR (within 6 bpm).
-For the best (most accurate) prediction of VO2 max, the HR should be between 125 and 170 bpm.
-If the HR response to the initial work rate is not above 125 bpm after 6 minutes, then the test is continued for another 6-minute interval by increasing the work rate by 300 kp∙m∙min-1(1.0 kp.m).
- The HR at the fifth and sixth minutes, if acceptable to the criteria above, is averaged for the nomogram method.
Selecting the Appropriate Test
-Inappropriate test selection can lead to under-stressing or overstressing the client.
-The goal of the test should be to produce a sufficient level of exercise stress without physiologic or biomechanical strain
Things to consider:
-Has the test been validated in this population?
-Effect of a person’s condition on daily function and abilities
-Cognitive status
-Age
-Weight
-Mobility, use of orthotics or prosthetics, balance, gait
-Current level of pain
-Client’s goals
