Maximal Exercise Stress Test
Incremental exercise test to exhaustion performed on a treadmill or cycle ergometer for the diagnosis and/or assessment of sports performance.
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
This test makes it possible to assess an athlete’s cardiovascular and respiratory performance during maximal-intensity exercise. The tests can be performed either on a treadmill for athletes whose activity involves running or on a cycle ergometer for athletes who practise cycling. In both cases, following a warm-up, athletes perform an incremental-speed test to exhaustion, during which they are continuously monitored to ensure their safety. During the test, ventilation and gas exchange are measured using a mask, together with the heart’s electrical activity, in order to obtain health and/or performance results for the athlete.
The following equipment is available to perform these tests:
- Master Screen CPX gas analyser (Jager, Germany)
- Run Med treadmill (Technogym, Italy)
- Bike Med cycle ergometer (Technogym, Italy)
- 839E cycle ergometer (Monark, Sweden)
- Kickr indoor trainer (Wahoo, UK)
- Lactate Scout lactate analyser (Lactate Scout, Canada)
The test is continuously supervised by a specialist cardiologist and conducted by a sports science specialist.
Once the test has been completed and the data analysed, a sports medical report is prepared containing the main results obtained, together with recommendations on training parameters to improve sports performance.
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
The service is particularly relevant to various profiles within the physical exercise ecosystem:
- Endurance Athletes: Runners, cyclists and triathletes seeking to optimise their power or pace zones.
- Federation Certification: Athletes requiring a medical certificate for high-intensity exercise for long-distance competitions (Ironman, Marathon).
- Safe Exercise Initiation: People wishing to start a structured exercise programme who need to rule out cardiovascular risks.
- Professional Clubs: Pre-season assessment of squads to establish performance baselines.
ADVANTAGES AND INNOVATIVE ASPECTS
Most centres offering this type of test perform an automatic or estimated determination of intensity/training zones based on the data obtained, which, according to the scientific literature, is not particularly accurate.
At our centre, the analysis combines the use of state-of-the-art algorithms with observational assessment, which has been shown to be the most valid and reliable method for achieving more precise individualisation of the parameters obtained during the exercise stress test.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
These assessments are available and are routinely carried out. The research team also has extensive experience in conducting exercise stress tests in athletes from different sports and disciplines.
APPLICATION SECTORS
- Sports Organisations and Clubs (Football, Cycling, Athletics).
- High-Performance Centres.
- Sports Event Organisers (Safety Certifications).
- Health and Corporate Wellbeing Companies.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
José Manuel Sarabia Marín – University Institute for Research, Sports Research Centre