Ergometry2 (2. LF UK)

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Job Entry[edit | edit source]

  1. Verification of the physical relation .
  2. Examination with graded load without breaks.
  3. Comparison of the condition of two people.

Theoretical introduction[edit | edit source]

Ergometry is an examination that monitors the activity of the heart during exercise, thanks to which it is possible to diagnose some types of heart disorders that cannot be detected when a person is at rest. Before starting the actual examination, a control ECG curve is recorded for the patient lying at rest. In the presence of the doctor, the patient is exposed to an increasing load on the so-called ergometer (exercise bike, treadmill...) and is also connected to an EKG that monitors heart activity during the entire examination. After the test, the result is interpreted by an experienced cardiologist.

Note: For practice purposes, we do not use ECGs, but only pulse rate meters.

With increasing physical load, the muscles demand a greater amount of oxygen and energy, as a result, the arteries in the stressed area expand and the heart activity also increases. However, if the vessels are clogged with fatty plaques (atherosclerosis), this expansion and insufficient oxygenation of the area of ​​the heart supplied by the narrowed vessel will not occur, causing severe chest pain.


The doctor may recommend the examination in several of the following cases:

  • detection of heart diseases and their nature
  • as a control of the course of heart disease
  • after acute myocardial infarction and cardiac catheterizations (coronary artery surgery)
  • to determine the effectiveness of drugs, or change medication
  • determination of tolerable load during sports and other physical activity
  • assessment of other heart defects and arrhythmias


The examination usually consists of several parts:

  1. Preparatory phase: connecting the person to the devices, measuring the resting pulse rate
  2. 'Warm up phase (warm up): application of low load with the aim of increasing tissue blood flow, oxygen supply and metabolism, improving joint mobility, the phase also has a preventive effect against ischemia of the heart and arrhythmias
  3. Load phase: load progression varies according to the type of machine and the performance of the examined patient
  4. 'Cool down phase (cool down): low-intensity exercise with the aim of returning circulatory parameters after intense exercise to values ​​close to rest and preventing dizziness or collapse, facilitating the removal of lactate from the blood
  5. Recovery phase: monitoring the relaxation after exercise

Precautions before starting the test.[edit | edit source]

Persons who are in any way medically indisposed (severe heart rhythm disorders, injuries, inflammatory diseases, lung problems,...) may not participate in the test. Eat sensibly and dress athletically before the test. Don't forget to drink enough fluids. Enter the ergometer without shoes. During the test, the rest of the group does not move around the ergometer to avoid injury. Ventilate the room as needed. Complications such as acute myocardial infarction (0.05%), sudden death (0.01%), or less serious disorders (mechanical injuries, dizziness, weakness...) may occur during the examination. If you feel any health problems during the test, stop the test immediately.'The safe range of heart rate is considered to be so that the heart rate does not exceed twice the resting heart rate'.

Home Preparation[edit | edit source]

In the morning, immediately after waking up, we measure the resting heart rate (BPM).

Procedure[edit | edit source]

Tools:[edit | edit source]

  • Elliptical ergometer Kettler SKYLON S (calculates work from the force needed to overcome the resistance of the machine)
  • Chest belt ‒ pulse rate meter
  • Sportswear

1. Task ― Verification of the physical relationship .[edit | edit source]

  1. By pedaling fast or slow, find out when you need to exert more or less force to maintain constant power (same revolutions).
  2. In the protocol, describe what you observed and explain.
Ergometer settings.png

2. Task ― Examination with a graded load without breaks.[edit | edit source]

Examination preparation[edit | edit source]

  1. Indicate the name of the team member who will be investigated in the protocol. Fill in the appropriate boxes with gender, weight, age, resting heart rate (preferably determined in the morning after waking up) and information on whether the person in question is an athlete, i.e. indicate other reasons that could affect the results of the examination (current/permanent health problems, whether the subject is a smoker, etc.) .).
  2. First, reset the ergometer with the Reset button.
  3. After repeatedly pressing the Program button, select Count down.
  4. Using the Set', - and + buttons, set the time (time) to 12 min.
  5. Click on Set until you get to the default screen.
  6. Then check whether the load (power) is 20 W or adjust using - and + buttons.
  7. After setting up, the examinee puts the heart rate measuring belt on his chest.

Examination progress[edit | edit source]

  1. The examined person gets on the elliptical ergometer and stands still on it.
  2. 0. minutes' (Measurement number 1): Immediately before starting the exercise, we record the heart rate
  3. 1.-2. minute: For two minutes, the subject runs at a set load of 25 W.
    • Record – measurement number 2 (time 2 min): About 10 seconds before the end of the 2nd minute of the run (i.e. still with a load of 25 W) read and write the following values ​​in the table : RPM, speed, distance traveled, energy expended and heart rate.
  4. 3.-4. minute: We increase the load to 40 W and it runs for another two minutes.
    • Record - measurement number 3 (time 4 min): About 10 seconds before the end of the 4th minute of the run (i.e. still with a load of 40 W) read and write the above in the table values.
  5. We continue in a similar way by increasing the load 'by 20 W every two minutes and before the end of the given cycle we write the detected values ​​in the log.
  6. 9-10 minute: We increase the load for the last time, namely to 100 W' and run at it for another two minutes.
    • Entry – measurement number 6' (time 10 min)
  7. 11.-12. minute: We reduce the load to the resting 25 W' and run at it for another two minutes.
    • Entry – measurement number 7 (time 12 min)
  8. 13-14 minute: Quiet. The examined person can sit down and rest for another two minutes.
    • Record – measurement number 8 (time 14 min): We will only record the heart rate value at the end of rest

Warning: During the exercise we constantly monitor the heart rate. If it exceeds twice the resting frequency, we do not increase the load any further! In that case, we will reduce the load again and adjust the protocol accordingly, or switch directly to a resting 25 W, or let the examined person rest. Likewise, if the proband felt signs of nausea, etc.

3. Task ― Compare the condition of two people[edit | edit source]

  1. We will investigate the second person in exactly the same way
  2. We will compare the results of the examination of both persons, especially with regard to the course of the heartbeat.

Review Questions[edit | edit source]

Attachments[edit | edit source]

Links[edit | edit source]

  1. Ergometry
  2. https://vysetreni.vitalion.cz/ergometrie/
  3. http://www.kardioprachatice.cz/pages/ergometricke_vysetreni/custom_page.htm/custom_page.htm;jsessionid=13E6AF19208FFEA5E22CCD3F57060239
  4. http://www.stefajir.cz/?q=zatezova-ergometrie
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3761733/

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

Literature[edit | edit source]

  1. Amler E. et al. Practical tasks from biophysics I. Department of Biophysics, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Prague 2006
  2. 'Navrátil L.et al. Medical Biophysics, Grada Prague 2005