What happens during an exercise test?
Often breathing tests performed whilst at rest do not always tell us the full impact your condition may have on your life. Many people with lung disease will become breathless when they do any form of exercise which may include:
- doing the weekly shopping
- walking to the bus stop
- doing a bit of gardening
For some patients, even just getting washed and dressed in the morning can be a challenge.
Exercise tests can help healthcare professionals understand how much exercise you are able to perform, how it is impacting on your daily living and to help us see if you might benefit from some extra oxygen to help and support you. The tests can also be used to see if you are fit enough for surgery and are sometimes used as part of a rehabilitation programme.
Six Minute Walk Test
This test requires you to walk up and down a long flat corridor for 6 minutes to see how far you can walk. You will be able to walk at your own pace and can stop and rest as many times as you need to.
This is not a treadmill test and you will not be expected to run or jog. If you use walking aids (such as a walking stick) you will be able to use this as normal. You will be asked how breathless you feel at the beginning of the test and then at the end of the test.
During the walk your oxygen levels may be monitored by a small probe placed on your finger. This is not painful as it uses different types of light to observe the blood as it passes under your finger nail and it helps us to observe if your oxygen level remains constant whilst exercising.
Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and sensible shoes for the test and do not exercise energetically for at least 2 hours before your test. Also try to avoid eating a large meal before your test.
Shuttle Walk Test
The purpose of this test is to see how far and fast you can walk (without stopping for a rest) by following a series of time signals.
During this test you will be asked to walk between two cones spaced 10 metres apart. You will begin by walking at a very slow pace and this pace is set by a beep. You will walk around the 10 metre course aiming to turn around a cone at the first beep, and around the second cone at the next beep.
The beep’s will very gradually get faster, which means you will begin to walk at a quicker pace, getting faster and faster until you cannot keep up with the set pace, or until you are too breathless or exhausted to continue.
You may be asked to wear a small probe on your finger in order to monitor your oxygen levels and your pulse rate during the exercise.
The test has 12 levels each lasting 1 minute with a minimum walking speed of 1.2 miles per hour, up to a maximum of 5.3 miles per hour. After the test is completed you will be asked to walk slowly around the course another 4 times as a cool down period, then you will rest for at least 10 minutes.
Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and sensible shoes for the test and do not exercise energetically for at least 2 hours before your test. Also try to avoid eating a large meal before your test.
Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing
There are many reasons for performing a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test or CPET these include:
- Assessing fitness/suitability for planned surgery (e.g. major abdominal surgery, lung resection, transplantation)
- Assessing the cause of poor exercise tolerance
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- To assess fitness
- To distinguish between cardiac and respiratory disease
- In Sports therapy, for monitoring athletes
Before the Test
It is recommended that you wear light, loose fitting clothing for the test and flat shoes. It is advisable not to eat a big meal before your exercise test and you should be told before you attend if there is any medication that you may have to stop before coming for the test.
Before starting the test, the healthcare scientist (or other health care professional) will explain everything carefully and allow you to ask any questions.
How is the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Performed (CPET)?
The test is non-invasive and monitors the effects of exercise on your breathing and heart. The test is commonly performed on an exercise bicycle (or cycle ergometer) but may also be performed with you walking on a treadmill. On a bicycle, you will pedal against an increasing resistance; in other words it will gradually get harder to pedal. For the treadmill, the speed and slope of the treadmill will be increased as the test goes on.
During the exercise test, you will be connected to a mouthpiece or mask. This will allow us to measure your breathing during exercise; how much oxygen you take in and how much carbon dioxide you breathe out. You will also be connected to an ECG machine and this will measure your heart rate during the exercise. Your blood pressure will also be checked. A small probe will be placed on one of your fingers to check your oxygen levels.
The exercise will start easy and very gradually get harder. Your oxygen levels, blood pressure and ECG will be carefully monitored throughout the test. The test will usually take up to a maximum of 10 minutes to complete and will be stopped at any point should the Physiologist (or other healthcare professional) think it necessary or if you feel you cannot exercise further.
At the end of the test, once you have recovered, you will be allowed to go home. The test information will then be analysed and a report completed.