Fitness tests are used to assess the condition of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Thanks to them, you can find out what effort our heart and lungs are capable of and how to train to effectively increase your efficiency. Find out what fitness tests are: spirometry, exercise ECG, ergospirometry, and what exercise parameters help you determine.
Fitness testsare performed in people suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory system diseases, in patients before surgery and in athletes. They can be performed both for the diagnosis of heart and lung diseases and for the assessment of physical fitness. Endurance tests allow you to determine such exercise parameters as lung vital capacity, heart rate, blood pressure, VO2 max, maximum heart rate, pulmonary minute ventilation, etc.
See what tests can measure your efficiency and assess your he alth.
Performance tests: spirometry
Spirometry measures your respiratory fitness at rest. Thus, it helps to assess the he alth of the lungs. The procedure consists in measuring the volume of inhaled and exhaled air. It is performed sitting down - the patient covers a special tube from a spirometer (measuring device) with his mouth and follows the doctor's instructions. Most often, at the beginning of the test, you breathe freely, and then you need to inhale as deeply as possible and exhale as hard as possible, but at the same time very slowly.
Parameters tested during spirometry include: vital capacity of the lungs, i.e. the largest volume of air that we are able to blow out (stands for FVC), as well as the amount of air exhaled during the first second (FEV1). The test results are compared with the standards in the table. They can be used to diagnose bronchial stenosis associated with asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which smokers often suffer from.
Fitness tests: Exercise ECG
Both spirometry and exercise ECG are medical tests - their primary function is to detect lung and cardiovascular diseases.
An electrocardiographic stress test is a test that can be used to evaluate how the heart works during exercise. They are carried out on a treadmill or stationary bike. To the patient's bodyAdditionally, electrodes are attached, with the help of which the device monitors the heart rate and pressure on an ongoing basis. The test subject exercises with increasing load - for this purpose, the speed of the treadmill and the angle of its inclination are increased every 3 minutes (according to the so-called Bruce protocol). During an exercise ECG, the doctor constantly monitors the work of the circulatory system, and the device periodically, every 1 minute, records the various parameters of the heart.
The test can detect coronary artery disease and determine the causes of arrhythmias. They are also performed to determine what training intensity is safest for a given person.
Performance tests: ergospirometry
Ergospirometry is a combination of spirometry and ECG performed simultaneously during exercise. Such a test is very often chosen by people practicing sports because it helps to determine all the most important performance parameters. In addition, it gives valuable tips on how to improve your training so that it translates into better sports results. Both amateurs and professional athletes can use ergospirometry - mainly those practicing endurance disciplines, e.g. running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, rowing, tennis.
Ergospirometry is performed, as with an exercise ECG, on a treadmill or exercise bike. Electrodes are glued to the patient's body, and additionally, an oxygen mask is attached to a device that analyzes the concentration of exhaled gases. The computer monitors the breathing and heart rate of the exercising person on an ongoing basis. The test is completed when the subject's heart rate reaches the maximum level or when symptoms that signal severe exhaustion occur (e.g. angina, shortness of breath, sudden drop in blood pressure).
The following performance parameters can be measured by ergospirometry:
- VO2max- otherwise VO2 max or peak oxygen uptake. It is a value that defines the maximum amount of oxygen that our body is able to take in during one minute of intense exercise;
- HRmax- maximum heart rate;
- RER- respiratory exchange ratio, i.e. the ratio of exhaled carbon dioxide to oxygen consumed;
- VE- minute lung ventilation, i.e. the volume of air that flows through the lungs in one minute;
- AT- the anaerobic threshold, i.e. the stage of exercise, in which the anaerobic changes begin to prevail over the oxygen ones.
On the basis of the obtained results, the specialist is able to determine individual exercise indicators, the knowledge of which helps in planning training sessions and increases their effectiveness. They are:
- metabolic thresholds- they are determined by the anaerobic AT and lactate LT thresholds. After exceeding LT, the concentration of lactate in the blood rises above the resting level. After exceeding the AT, the circulatory system cannot keep up with the supply of oxygen needed by cells to produce energy, and the balance between lactate production and excretion is disturbed. As a result of this phenomenon, the body begins to obtain energy through anaerobic processes. Such effort leads to acidification of the body quickly, so athletes should strive to delay the occurrence of the anaerobic threshold. Knowing the heart rate at which the body exceeds AT allows them to stay within the limits of aerobic processes and thus increase their efficiency.
- training zones- heart rate ranges in which physical effort has different effects on the body, e.g. it helps to burn fat, increases endurance, speed, muscle power, etc. Training zones are determined by based on your maximum heart rate or HRmax. Knowing them helps in carrying out training in such a way that it suits our needs and goals.
People who want to lose unnecessary kilograms, thanks to fitness tests, can precisely determine the heart rate interval for which fat burning will be the most effective. I know from experience that many of them are not aware that more is not better, and slimming is an individualized process that should take place gradually. When exercising with too much intensity, the human body takes more energy from glycol contained in the muscles than from fat, which means that the efforts of many people on a slimming basis do not bring the intended results.
For people who want to stay fit, a performance test can help determine the initial state of training and determine the optimal type and intensity of training (tailored to the individual characteristics of the body). A competitor who learns the parameters of his body will be able to train in such a way as to effectively and safely pursue the intended sports goal. Thanks to research, he can avoid overtraining and minimize the risk of injury.
Source: Diet & More press materials
Performance tests: contraindications
People with the following symptoms or diseases should not undergo fitness tests:
- recent heart attack;
- unstable heart disease: coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, acute myocarditis or pericarditis, arrhythmias, heart failure, severe aortic stenosis;
- hotpulmonary embolism or pulmonary infarction;
- respiratory failure;
- decompensated bronchial asthma;
- lower limb thrombosis.
There are also relative contraindications for performance tests - then testing is possible, but it is best if the patient obtains approval from their doctor. Be careful with:
- stenosis of the left main coronary artery;
- atrial fibrillation;
- tachyarrhythmia and bradyarrhythmia;
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
- AV block;
- severe hypertension.