Constant versus Incremental Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test in Evaluation of Functional Capacity in Normal Young Adults

This study was conducted to compare between the constant (CWR) and the incremental work rate (IWR) cardiopulmonary exercise fest (CP ET) in measuring the parameters of functional capacity (Maximum oxygen consumption (V02 max) and anaerobic threshold) in addition to the maximum work time. Subjects: sixty apparently normal subjects (30 males and 30 females) were recruited for this study ji-om Faculties of Physical Therapy [Cairo University and 6th of October University}. Their ages and body mass index (BMI) ranged from 18-24 years old and 25-30 kg/m2 respectively and non of them was athelitic person. Materials: Cardio pulmonary Exercise test unit; (ZAN; MeBgerate GmbH, Germany) at the faculty of physical therapy laboratory. It consists of breath gas (02 and CO2) analyzer; electronically braked computerized cycle ergometer (SN RAM; Germany). It has been used to evaluate the pulmonary function under resting condition using the built in Spirometer, and measuring the functional capacity parameters. Procedures: All the subjects were assigned into one study group, every subject performed an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test, then after one weak, they performed the constant cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results: The statistical analysis of the data had showed that the differences in the parameters of functional capacity indices (V02 max, and anaerobic threshold) were higher in constant CPET for all subjects but the values didn't reach a significant difference level. The result also showed significant decrease of the maximum work time during CWR than during IWRfor all subjects. It was concluded that there were no significant difference bet1lleen CWR and IWR cardiopulmonary test protocoles in measuring the functional capacity indices (V02 max, and anaerobic threshold) while they are significantlly different in measuring the the maximm work time for adult subjects