Tests and Procedures

Exercise Stress Testing

Standard ETT (Exercise Tolerance Test)

Exercise testing is used to evaluate the heart and lung function of children. This is especially important in children with heart muscle damage or injury, complex structural heart problems, and rhythm (heartbeat) problems. Our pediatric exercise laboratory uses a stationary bicycle or a treadmill. An Exercise Physiologist, specially trained to evaluate children undergoing exercise testing, coordinates the test.

Patches are placed on the patient’s chest and connected to wires from a heart monitor. The Exercise Physiologist will check the patient’s heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure at rest, during the exercise and after exercise. The patient walks/runs on a treadmill or rides the bike until he/she can no longer tolerate the test – a maximal effort. When the exercise portion is done, the patient rests for approximately 10 minutes. The exercise part lasts on average 10 minutes. The entire test from beginning to end takes about 1 hour.

Metabolic ETT

An Exercise Tolerance Test as described above, but in addition, the patient breathes through a special mouthpiece to determine how much and how effectively the body uses oxygen. The test is done on either the treadmill or bicycle.

REE (Resting Energy Expenditure)

A non-exercise test that measures how much energy (calories) a patient burns at rest. This information is helpful for patients that need to lose or gain weight.

Preparation instructions for Exercise Testing

Eat a light meal before coming, wear comfortable clothes, shorts or sweat pants and sneakers.

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