Exercise testing factsheet
Introduction
An exercise test shows how well your child's heart handles physical activity by monitoring how it works during exercise.
During exercise, your child's body will work harder and need more oxygen. The heart must pump more blood than usual to deliver oxygen to the muscles.
This test measures the performance and capacity of the:
- heart
- lungs
- blood vessels.
Your child's doctor may recommend an exercise test to:
- diagnose coronary artery disease
- investigate heart-related symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or dizziness.
- screen for heart-related conditions that affect heart rhythm and blood pressure
- check your child's heart and lung capacity for certain physical activities or training programs.
- check the heart and lungs after medical treatment, procedures, or surgery.
聽Before the test
Your child will need to:
- stop eating and drinking two hours before the appointment
- Avoid caffeine on the day of the test, including chocolate, Milo, or fizzy drinks
- bring a change of clothes
- wear appropriate walking and running clothing and shoes.
The test cannot be done wearing jeans, thongs, or bare feet.
A physiologist will explain the test to you and answer any questions you might have.
The physiologist will then do a baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) by placing some sticky electrodes on your child鈥檚 chest and connecting some leads to these electrodes.
聽During the test
The test involves walking or running on a treadmill or cycling on a bike. The speed and incline increases every one or three minutes (depending on which procedure is chosen for your child). The test will be stopped if your child develops symptoms such as:
- fatigue
- breathlessness
- tired legs
- dizziness
- chest pain.
A physiologist will be there during the test to monitor your child's:
- pulse
- blood pressure
- ECG activity.
Some children may also need a face mask and their oxygen saturation monitored to check their lung function.
The test will take around 30-45 minutes, with the amount of time spent on the treadmill changing, depending on:
- age
- ability
- health
- fitness.
If your child feels unwell at any time, the test will stop.
聽After the test
Your child will be watched for at least five minutes after the test until they recover.
The results will be sent to your child's doctor. You will need to book a follow-up appointment with them to discuss the results and any further tests or treatment.
