Cosmed Quark PFT, Manual

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128 - Quark PFT User Manual
Staffing
Staff members should be able to do the following:
1. Establish rapport with the subject and make him or her feel comfortable.
2. Recognize normal acute and chronic responses to exercise.
3. Recognize abnormal signs and symptoms during exercise.
4. Provide basic life support measures competently.
5. Adhere to established procedures and protocols.
6. Clearly explain test results to the individual.
Test termination
Sub-maximal tests should be terminated according to ACSM or other accepted
guidelines (see table in the following). In the event of an abnormal response, the test
should be terminated, the medical director of the facility and the individual’s primary
care physician notified, and all specified follow-up procedures performed. In the event
of mechanical or electrical failure that may compromise the accuracy of the test results
or monitoring capabilities, the test should be terminated until the problem is corrected.
General Indications for Stopping an Exercise Test in Apparently Healthy Adults
Onset of angina or angina-like symptoms
Significant drop (20 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure or a failure of the systolic blood
pressure to rise with an increase in exercise intensity
Excessive rise in blood pressure: systolic pressure >260 mmHg or diastolic pressure
>
115 mmHg
Signs of poor perfusion: tight-headedness, confusion, ataxia, pallor, cyanosis, nausea, or
cold and clammy skin
Failure of heart rate to increase with increased exercise intensity
Noticeable change in heart rhythm
Subject requests to stop
Physical or verbal manifestations of severe fatigue
Failure of the testing equipment
Assuming that testing is non-diagnostic and is being performed without direct physician
involvement or electrocardiographic monitoring.