What is a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test?
A cardiopulmonary exercise test is a test to:
- See how well your child’s heart, lungs and muscles work together during exercise
- Check your child’s level of fitness
Many of your child’s tests are done while they are resting. But an exercise test gives valuable information about how the body responds to different levels of exercise.
How is an Exercise Test Done?
The test is usually done on a stationary bicycle or treadmill, depending on the child’s age, size and ability. The child wears a few devices during the test that tell how exercise is affecting the body.
| Device | Purpose |
| Small clip that goes on the finger or a pad on the forehead | Tells how much oxygen is in the blood |
| Small stickers (electrodes) that go on the chest | Watches the heart activity |
| Blood pressure cuff on the arm or leg | Checks blood pressure |
| Padded nose clip and mouthpiece or breathing mask | Checks the breathing patterns and how well oxygen goes in and out of the lungs |
While exercising, the child is asked to rate the difficulty on a scale of 6-20, with 20 being the hardest. The resistance on the stationary bicycle or the treadmill speed and grade gets increasingly harder the longer the child exercises. Your child will exercise as long as possible (parent / guardians can help encourage their child to exercise as long as possible). Once the exercise part of the test has ended, the child is allowed to rest. Some of the devices stay on the child until the heart rate and blood pressure return to resting values.
How Long Does the Exercise Test Last?
The entire test will take about one hour. The actual exercise part of the test will only last about 15 minutes, but preparing for the test and watching the child after the test will take about 45 minutes.
How Should a Child Prepare for the Exercise Test?
- Your child should wear comfortable, loose and appropriately fitting clothes and gym shoes (required).
- Your child should not eat a large meal within two to three hours before the test. However, your child may drink clear liquids (like water or apple juice) up to one hour before the test.
- If your child has an early morning appointment, they are encouraged to eat a light snack before testing to prevent low blood sugar.
- Your child should avoid caffeinated products like coffee, tea and cola drinks, chocolate, and added sugar on the day of testing.
- No smoking, alcoholic beverages or over-the-counter cold/sinus medicines for 24 hours before testing.
Are There Any Side Effects of the Exercise Test?
This test is not dangerous. You can expect your child to get short of breath and feel muscle fatigue due to the level of exercise. After the test, your child may feel tired because they just had a good workout!
Who Performs and Interprets the Exercise Test?
An exercise physiologist will run the test, and other staff may also help (like a respiratory therapist or nursing staff). A pediatric cardiologist (heart doctor) will interpret the test.
