Monark 839 E, Manual

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Monark Ergomedic 839 E
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7.1.5 Protocol operation
A protocol operation cycles the ergometer th-
rough a predefined workload sequence, automa-
tically. The protocol may be designed to alter the
workload according to time or a physiological re-
sponse such as heart rate. Several of the protocols
may be modified or customized by the user to suit
specific needs.
The programmed sequence of workload may be
set to provide a varying workload. The rate of
change of the workload may be specifically set in
some protocols. Still other protocols may exer-
cise the subject to a maximum (or submaximal)
effort to determine an index of fitness (oxygen
consumption).
A protocol may terminate based on the passage
of time or the satisfaction of a specific physiologi-
cal conditions such as a “steady state” heart rate.
For details, refer to the specific protocol opera-
tion description.
At the conclusion of a protocol, a summary is
printed, if the optional external printer is in-
stalled. This report includes various identifica-
tion data: the protocol name , the subjects age,
weight, sex. In addition, test results are printed,
including the predicted maximum heart rate, the
actual steady state heart rate, the maximum wor-
kload and the “V02 max”. The V02 maximum is
expressed both as a total body usage in l/minute
and per kg of body weight in ml/kg/minute. If a
printer is not available, only the V02 max data,
both in l/min and ml/kg/min are displayed. The
interpretation and meaning of the V02 max data
is specific to the design of the particular protocol.
Certain protocols are simply programmed exer-
cise and therefore are not designed to measure
V02. Please refer to the specific protocol descrip-
tion prior to attaching any significance to the re-
ported value.
The computer controller for the 839 Ergometer
can perform different protocols in addition to
strict manual operation. Four protocols have been
preset and 2 are partly preset . Several prepro-
grammed protocols measure oxygen consump-
tion at steady state: the Astrand, using a single
workload, the YMCA, using multiple branching
workloads (“YMCAs Way to Physical Fitness”
bicycle test) and the Bruce and Naughton, using
multiple increasing workloads (treadmill proto-
cols adapted to bicycles ergometry). Additional
preprogrammed protocols, not designed to me-
asure V02, provide timed increasing workloads
(ramp and incremental) and a heart rate training
program in which a target heart rate is set and the
ergometer attempts to maintain the target rate by
varying the applied workload accordingly.
All protocol operations enable the heart alarm
feature. The alarm value is preset to 220 - age.
During the test setup procedure, the maximum
heart rate may be changed depending on the sub-
jects exercise prescription or other constraints.
If the heart rate exceeds the alarm value, a beep-
ing tone will be heard until the heart rate falls
below the alarm point or the alarm is disabled.
When the alarm sounds, the workload is remo-
ved, automatically, to prevent overstressing the
subject.
The alarm feature may be disabled, particularly
if the protocol does not require monitoring of the
subject’s heart rate. If heart rate is not being mo-
nitored, start the protocol and then disable the
alarm.
The automatic protocol attempt to exercise the
subject at specific oxygen consumption levels.
The ergometer achieves this by producing a bra-
king force which, in normal individuals, requires
the consumption of the desired volume of oxy-
gen. Note that most protocols express the V02
in ml/kg/min, therefore, the total V02 required
is calculated using the subjects weight and sub-
sequently converted to a power workload. The
table below shows the nominal work equivalent
to various oxygen consumption rates.
Work load Oxygen uptake
(Kpm/min) (L/min)
300 0,9
600 1,5
900 2,1
1200 2,8
1500 3,5
1800 4,2
2100 5,0
2400 5,7
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