Exercise Physiology
Exercise Physiology is concerned with measuring and improving performance by understanding the changes that occur in the body during exercise. By using sound scientific principles, exercise physiology allows the human body to train more efficiently and effectively and recover from injury faster.
At Finsbury Healthcare, a specially trained exercise physiologist provides patients with a range of tests to assess your cardiovascular health and give indications of your level of physical fitness.
Exercise testing
An exercise electrocardiogram (EECG) or “Cardiofit” is designed to provide information on how well your heart functions under strenuous workloads. The test will provide evidence of coronary heart disease and a range of cardiac conditions including cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), possible heart related chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath.
As you body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so the heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart including possible coronary disease.
As the intensity of exercise increases, this test records and measures how well your cardiopulmonary system (heart, circulation and lungs) responds to the increased demands placed on it.
Click here to find out more about the test.
Maximal Oxygen Consumption test (VO2 max)
VO2max is a precise measurement of your aerobic capacity as it indicates the maximum amount of oxygen that the body is able to utilise. The Cardiofit test is a treadmill test which takes you to your maximum heart rate (as defined by your age) to measure the condition of your heart and lungs under exercise conditions, and measures the intake of oxygen and output of carbon dioxide.
The higher the VO2max values are the higher your aerobic capacity and your ability to perform exercise. Studies indicate that VO2max can increase by changing the duration, intensity and type of your current exercise program.
The test is performed according to the internationally recognised Bruce protocol on a treadmill as it has been shown to have greater diagnostic sensitivity than if the test is performed on an exercise bike.
The test also measures the response of your cardiopulmonary system (heart, circulation and lungs) to exercise and is useful in establishing a baseline measure of fitness, and can help identify the existence of underlying heart disease. This test should be viewed as the first step in altering a major risk factor for ill health, namely physical inactivity.
Resting ECG – A resting ECG is a measurement of the electrical activity of the heart at rest. The patient will be placed in a supine position and made to feel as comfortable as possible while 10 electrodes are attached to their chest. The patient will not feel anything and the test takes no longer than 5minutes.
Any Questions? If you have any questions, please contact Travers Barr, Exercise Physiologist, on 020 7448 8480 or email travers.barr@genmed.org.uk
Appointments are available Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) by calling Finsbury Healthcare on 020 7448 8480.
