Stress test or cycling performance evaluation

The importance of the stress test

Before going into the subject, we recall that the stress test is a technique whose fundamental purpose is to evaluate the physical condition of the athlete or person, who is subjected to considerable effort or, unlike the treadmill, to a low-impact activity. It is also used to assess the heart's response to exercise and to diagnose angina pectoris in patients with chest pain. Therefore, it is important that every athlete, amateur or professional, performs it before the start of the season.

There are several types, and as we have already seen what the treadmill test consists of, on this occasion we will focus on the exercise bike test.

You may be interested in:Why do a stress test or performance assessment on the treadmill?

What is a cycloergometer stress test?

All stress tests have the same purpose, but a cyclist is more likely to achieve maximum performance on a bicycle than on a treadmill, as the former is more suited to his or her characteristics. Needless to say, if the center has the necessary equipment, there is nothing like the patient's own bicycle to perform the test. This, known in other terms as the principle of specificity, can be extrapolated to other sports.

The cycloergometer will be connected to a series of screens on which the evolution of the heart rate can be displayed, together with the watts of pedal power. In general, the protocols used usually simulate the ascent of a mountain pass, where the slopes become more complicated.

How is this test performed?

First of all, a personal file will be filled out, in which certain aspects of the athlete will be evaluated, followed by an anthropometry, that is, a study of the body's proportions.
Subsequently, the technician will place the heart rate monitor on the chest. This will be connected to a monitor that will follow the electrical activity of the heart during the test.

In the initial medical examination, a resting electrocardiogram will have been performed to rule out any abnormalities.

The test will begin with a relatively gentle load and a warm-up. Every few minutes2usually3 minutes), the force to be applied by the patient in each pedal stroke will be progressively increased. The test will end when the patient is no longer able to continue. It usually lasts 15 minutes.

Once this phase is completed, the athlete will stop for recovery, during which he/she will be asked to lie down or sit down to rest.

Comfortable clothing and sneakers should be worn to facilitate the exercise, as well as avoiding the ingestion of alcoholic beverages, caffeine and other similar products hours before the test. In addition, it is essential that the athlete tries to make the maximum effort possible so that the results are as close to reality as possible.
Finally, it is advisable not to exercise intensely for an hour.

Evaluation of the results

With the cycloergometer stress test we will obtain a series of data that can help us in the planning of our training. However, for a person on foot it is very complicated to decipher these terms. Therefore, it is important that the person in charge of performing the test (sports doctor or physical trainer-coach) "translates" them and that they are understood by the athlete.

Thanks to this test, we will find out at what running speed we will reach the limit of our heart and what our level of endurance is. It will also help us to know at what speed we are most comfortable training and up to what maximum speed we can pedal without accumulating fatigue. In any case, to apply the results of the test in the best possible way, the best thing to do is to give them to our physical trainer. He will know what to do.

One of the results we obtain in the stress test is the lactate curve with respect to intensity. Some training objectives are:

Improve our endurance capacity.

Improve our endurance capacity resistance to pedaling.

Lactate tolerance is improved, therefore we have less fatigue.

Always with a professional

It is important to mention that the stress test must be performed in a specialized center. It is not advisable to do the test alone and without the presence of a professional, since in this way the data obtained will not have the necessary reliability to know the real state of health. It should be remembered that this test serves to find out how to practice any sport on the bike in a healthy way and to prepare ourselves in the most appropriate way for the test, so it should be taken seriously.

Photo: vidacare.com.mx/