In the Ergometry a performance profile for the cardiovascular system of a patient is created. Ergometry takes place within the framework of aptitude tests and sports medicine examinations or for the prognosis of cardiopulmonary ailments. Contraindications to the stress test are acute heart attacks, severe heart failure or excessively high resting blood pressure.
What is ergometry?
The ergometry measures performance parameters of the cardiovascular system under targeted stress on the organism. Literally translated, the ancient Greek term means "work measurement". Most of the time, ergometric tests correspond to step-like stress tests. The objective is to objectively assess the physical performance of a patient. The conditions of each ergometric test are exactly reproducible. This means that ergometric tests can be specifically repeated and compared with one another. The measuring device for an ergometry is also called an ergometer and records extensive data from the cardiovascular system.
Forerunners of the ergometer already existed towards the end of the 18th century. The first ergometers were built in Germany in the 19th century. The doctor C. Speck became a pioneer in this field. Both bicycle and treadmill ergometers were produced between the 19th and 20th centuries. Today there are also rowing ergometers, swimming channel ergometers and paddle ergometers. In addition to the step tests, the performance measurement is now also carried out as an endurance test. Both the documentation of cross-sectional and longitudinal examinations is possible with modern ergometers.
Function, effect & goals
Usually, the ergometry takes place in the context of sports or occupational medicine. The method is used in particular for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. Ergometric tests are used in the medical field, especially when assessing heart and lung diseases. As part of an aptitude test, ergometry is often used to create performance diagnostics for athletes or patients from certain professional areas.
Examples of such professions are the fire brigade, the police or NASA. A patient's performance level can be precisely recorded using the ergometer. For athletes, for example, a training plan is often created on the basis of ergometric tests that is precisely tailored to their personal level of performance. In rehabilitation facilities, ergometers are also often used as training devices. Due to the reproducibility of ergometric conditions, the patient's performance can be recorded over a certain period of time and reliably compared with the initial values. In this way, rehabilitation successes can be documented and meaningfully analyzed.
Under certain circumstances, the ergometer can also be used as a documentation tool for the course of illness. The exact process of an ergometry differs depending on the area of application and the ergometer. In the case of performance diagnostics, the respective work or sports associations usually set the scope of the examination. The standard ergometry is finished after completing the specified levels. The step ergometry, on the other hand, increases at predetermined intervals until the patient can no longer. On a bicycle ergometer, for example, the performance can be increased by 50 watts every three minutes. On a treadmill, on the other hand, the treadmill speed is increased by 0.5 m / s at specified time intervals. During this targeted exercise, the patient's blood pressure is measured.
In medical diagnostic ergometry, an additional device for logging lung function is usually connected to the ergometer. An example of such a device is the ergospirometer. In the medical field, the ergometry usually corresponds to a step test that is carried out according to the criteria of the WHO. The exercise period is between nine and twelve minutes. After a resting ECG, it usually starts with a 25 or 40 watt load. After every two minutes, the doctor performing the work increases the load by, for example, 25 watts.
The maximum achievable pulse rate is calculated using the formula 220 minus the patient's age. The Bruce protocol is mostly used as the standard protocol when performing on the treadmill. In cardiac patients, ergometry allows prognostic conclusions to be drawn about life expectancy. The risks of an operation can also be determined in this way. The performance of a patient is usually given as an absolute, but also relative value to the target performance.
Risks, side effects & dangers
Ergometry is associated with risks for the patient. Fatal incidents rarely occur. Medicine assumes a prevalence between one in 50,000 and one in 600,000 for fatal consequences. Despite the low death rate, ventricular fibrillation sometimes occurs during ergometry, especially in cardiac patients.
This scenario may require the use of a defibrillator. Sometimes patients suffer circulatory collapse during exercise. Despite these possible risks, medicine speaks of a relatively safe method. Serious incidents are comparatively rare in stress tests. Nevertheless, the contraindications to ergometry must be carefully considered beforehand. An unstable angina pectoris offers exercise tests just like an acute heart attack.
Aortic aneurysms, severe heart valve defects and carditis as well as severe hypertension or heart failure are also considered contraindications. If the patient's menstrual blood pressure is above 200/120 mmHg or if there is inflammation of the heart muscle, ergometry should also not be used. Certain medications may have to be discontinued by patients before an ergometry test. In contrast to many other diagnostics, the patient should not appear sober for the ergometry, but should at least have had breakfast. Side effects of ergometry are sometimes symptoms similar to sore muscles on the following day. Joint pain can also occur. The same goes for temporary shortness of breath.
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