Reliability Of Exercise Testing Research Articles

Feasibility, safety, and reliability of exercise testing using the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer in subjects with a lower limb amputation.

BackgroundPhysical fitness of patients with a lower limb amputation predicts their walking ability and may be improved by physical exercise and training. A maximal exercise test is recommended prior to training in order to determine cardiovascular risks and design exercise programs. A potentially suitable ergometer for maximal exercise testing in patients with a lower limb amputation is the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer. The aim of this study was to determine feasibility, safety, and reliability of (sub)maximal exercise testing on the Cruiser ergometer in subjects with a lower limb amputation.Methods and findingsSubjects with a lower limb amputation performed 1 submaximal exercise test and 3 maximal exercise tests on the Cruiser ergometer. Feasibility was determined by examining whether key variables such as power output, heart rate and oxygen uptake were correctly and reliably measured, by determining whether a test was a maximal aerobic performance, by studying reasons for non-completion, and by measuring gross efficiency. Safety was analyzed by recording complications, electrocardiogram results, and blood pressure. Reliability was tested by comparing the results of the second and third maximal exercise test. Seventeen subjects (14 men and 3 women) out of 21 preselected subjects completed the study. In general, the maximal Cruiser exercise test was feasible. Almost 75% of the subjects reached a maximal aerobic performance. The test was also safe because no complications occurred, although electrocardiogram and blood pressure could only be reliably recorded in most subjects just before and after the test. Reliability was good: Intraclass correlation was 0.84 for peak oxygen uptake.ConclusionsThe Cruiser ergometer is a feasible, safe, and reliable ergometer for measuring physical fitness of subjects with a lower limb amputation.

Feasibility, safety, and reliability of exercise testing using the arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer in subjects with a lower limb amputation

Physical fitness of patients with a lower limb amputation predicts their walking ability and may be improved by physical exercise and training. A maximal exercise test is recommended prior to training in order to determine cardiovascular risks and design exercise programs. A potentially suitable ergometer for maximal exercise testing in patients with a lower limb amputation is the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer ( Fig. 1 ). The aim of this study was to determine feasibility, safety, and reliability of (sub)maximal exercise testing on the Cruiser ergometer in subjects with a lower limb amputation. Subjects with a lower limb amputation performed 1 submaximal exercise test and 3 maximal exercise tests on the Cruiser ergometer. Feasibility was determined by examining whether key variables such as heart rate and oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) were correctly and reliably measured, by determining whether a test was maximal, by studying reasons for non-completion, and by measuring gross efficiency (GE). Safety was analyzed by recording complications, electrocardiogram (ECG) results, and blood pressure. Reliability was tested by comparing the results of the second and third maximal exercise test. Seventeen subjects (14 men and 3 women) out of 21 preselected subjects completed the study. In general, the maximal Cruiser exercise test was feasible. Almost 75% of the subjects reached maximal performance. The test was also safe because no complications occurred, although ECG and blood pressure could only be reliably recorded in most subjects just before and after the test. Reliability was good: Intraclass correlation (ICC) was 0.84 for peak VO 2 . The Cruiser ergometer is a feasible, safe, and reliable ergometer for measuring physical fitness of subjects with a lower limb amputation.

Reliability of exercise testing and functional activity questionnaires in children with juvenile arthritis

To determine the reliability of formal exercise testing and the reliability of functional and activity questionnaires in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Children with JIA of any subtype ages 8-16 years who were recruited to a randomized trial comparing different exercise therapies participated in 2 preintervention sessions of exercise testing 2-6 weeks apart. Exercise testing included 1) submaximal oxygen uptake (VO(2submax)), 2) peak VO(2) (VO(2peak)), and 3) anaerobic power using modified Wingate tests (W(ant)). Two physical function questionnaires (the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire [C-HAQ] and Revised Activity Scale for Kids [ASK]) and 1 daily physical activity questionnaire (the Habitual Activity Estimation Scale [HAES]) were also completed at these times. Test-retest reliability was assessed using type 3, intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(3,1)) and Bland and Altman plots were used to determine limits of agreement. Data were available for 74 patients (58 girls). VO(2submax), VO(2peak), and W(ant) demonstrated high reliability (ICC(3,1) 0.82, 0.91, and 0.94, respectively). C-HAQ and ASK questionnaires also had very high reliability (ICC(3,1) 0.82 and 0.91, respectively). The HAES demonstrated low reliability for total activity score (ICC(3,1) 0.15) and moderate reliability when the number of very active hours was analyzed separately (ICC(3,1) 0.59). Results of this investigation suggest that exercise testing and functional questionnaires in children with JIA are consistent and reliable. Reliability of the HAES total score was poor, but moderate when the very active hours subscale score was used.