Office procedures. Exercise testing.

Abstract

Exercise testing is an effective method for evaluating patients with chest pain, for diagnosing and managing coronary artery disease, for determining prognosis in patients with known coronary disease, for determining exercise capacity, for evaluating exercise-induced arrhythmias, for verifying the safety of exercise, and for customizing an exercise prescription. With proper clinician training and careful selection of patients, exercise testing is a safe procedure (less than 1 complication per 10,000 cases). Performing office-based exercise testing improves clinician's basic electrocardiograph reading capabilities, communication, and his or her referral patterns with subspecialists. With an understanding of the basic principles of exercise testing, with proper supervision or consultation, and with proper selection of patients, most clinicians can enjoy exercise testing safely.