Astrand

Hogeschool van Amsterdam Amsterdam Institute of Allied Health Education European School of Physiotherapy

Åstrand Bike Test

SkillsLab
6 minute submaximal exercise test (Video and Manual)
Group members: Alison Cheevers Cathrine Pettersen

HvA, 26th January 2007

Contents: 1. Introduction……………………………………………………….p3 2. What is submaximal testing, when and how is it used……………p3 3. Directmeasurement of maxVO2…………………………………..p4 4. Indirect estimation of maxVO2……………………………………p5 4.1 Estimation of maxVO2……………………………………p5 4.2 Calculating the intensity of exercise……………………...p6 4.3 Karvonen method…………………………………………p7 5. When not to use submaximal testing……………………………...p9 6. The Åstrand Bike Test – a manual………………………………...p9 6.1 Subject…………………………………………………….p10 6.2 HealthHistory…………………………………………….p10 6.3 Contraindications to exercise testing……………………..p10 6.4 Indications when to stop the test………………………….p10 6.5 Pre-test preparation……………………………………….p11 6.6 Tools needed to do the test………………………………..p12 6.7 The Test: step-by-step……………………………………p12 6.8 Interpreting the results of a test………………………… p20 7. Conclusion………………………………………………………….p21 8. References…………………………………………………………p22 9. Appendices………………………………………………………...p24 1. ÅstrandRyhming Nomogram…………………………………p25 2. Health history questionnaire…………………………………...p26 3. Contraindications to exercise testing…………………………..p30 4. Indications when to stop an exercise test………………………p31 5. Normative data for submaximal exercise testing………………p32

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1. Introduction Submaximal testing is an important tool in physiotherapy. It is commonly used in practical settings and across differentsubject groups. This manual is designed to be used in conjunction with the digital video found in the HvA Mediatheek, Digital Library Service. Both the video and this manual were produced by third year ESP students for their Professional Assignment Project.

2. What is submaximal testing, when and how is it used? The ability to do aerobic exercise is very important for activities of daily livingand maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Aerobic capacity can be tested to measure the ability to do exercise specifically by measuring the amount of oxygen required (VO2). Unlike anaerobic power, which is related to local muscular strength and to the amount and rate of ATP produced by the anaerobic metabolic pathways (ATP-PC system and anaerobic glycolysis), aerobic power reflects the ability of thelungs, blood, heart, muscles, and other organs and organ systems to transport and utilise O2 via the aerobic metabolic pathways; determining a person’s level of cardiorespiratory fitness has therefore both general and clinical applications (Foss M.L. & Keteyian S.J., 1998). The measurement of maxVO2 can be used in a variety of different settings: elite athlete, healthy individuals in the fitnesssetting, and persons with known diseases or classified as high risk (for example, heart disease and obesity). In the latter group, persons with chronic disease or disability, it is vital to know their maxVO2 as many of these people have a very low ability to consume and utilise oxygen. Maximal steady-state oxygen consumption (VO2MSS) is in the usual range of 40% to 70% of maxVO2. Many people with achronic disease or disability have a maxVO2 that is below the 40% maxVO2 that is required for

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activities of daily living, employment, and maintenance of individual independence, resulting in a lower quality of life (Durstine J.L. & Moore G.E., 2003).

3. Direct measurement of maxVO2 Determining an individual’s aerobic power (cardiorespiratory fitness) can be best achieved through thedirect measure of maxVO2 while the individual is exercising. MaxVO2 reflects the body’s ability to transport and utilise O2, with changes in ventilation, perfusion, heart rate and stroke volume, and/or peripheral utilisation of O2, all having an influence on maxVO2. Therefore, the measurement of maxVO2 is considered to be the best measure of cardiorespiratory...