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Exercise Physiology or Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPX)
The CPX is an exercise test, therefore, it should be ordered only on individuals who are capable of walking, riding a bike and at least mild forms of exercise. For your safety, a Pulmonary Specialist Physician will be present at all times during the exercise period.
The CPX test can extend beyond the standard treadmill test to provide more data for your physician. It can be helpful in determining cardiac versus pulmonary impairments, limitations in exercise capacity and help your doctor in the detection of disease and in setting a course of treatment.
During the test you will ride a stationary bicycle. We will monitor your:
- heart rate and rhythm with patches attached directly to your chest;
- your blood pressure at periodic intervals;
- your breathing with a mouthpiece; and
- your oxygen levels with a finger-clip probe.
The CPX test will show:
- how much oxygen you use during different levels of exercise (oxygen consumption);
- how much carbon dioxide your muscles produce at different levels of exercise; and
- at what level of exercise you begin to use energy sources other than oxygen (anaerobic threshold).
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