Stress test for sportsmen and women
"The sports checkup allows to rule out possible pathologies that contraindicate the sports practice, and in this way to carry it out without risks and to avoid injuries that are derived from an inadequate practice".
DR. JUAN BERTÓ PERSON IN CHARGE. SPORTS MEDICINA AREA
What is a stress test for sportsmen and sportswomen?
The Clinica Universidad de Navarra offers effort tests especially directed at sportsmen and women or people who wish to start in sports.
Conducted by medical specialists in the area of Sports Medicine, the objective of the stress tests is to evaluate the response of the organism during physical effort.
In this way, the anaerobic threshold of each individual is determined, at which point the sportsperson's muscles are no longer capable of consuming glucose and begin to synthesize lactic acid. These thresholds are a fundamental part when designing a training plan and knowing the ideal intensity when training.
In the Clinic, the test of effort is integrated in the Sport Valuation, examination that looks for to offer to the sportsman a deeper study than the one that could offer a test of independent effort, including in addition to this one, a series of tests, controls and additional recommendations to manage to improve the sport performance and a free activity of risks.
When is the stress test for sportspeople indicated?
The stress test determines the anaerobic threshold, which occurs at a certain heart rate (beats per minute). Once this threshold is exceeded, the body begins to produce lactic acid and sports performance begins to decline.
Knowing this level, an appropriate training plan can be defined in order to raise the threshold and improve sports performance.
Thus, the stress test serves to determine the appropriate level of physical effort for each individual so that training is more productive and progress is made more quickly and effectively.
In addition, it allows the detection of some arrhythmias, myocardiopathies and congenital or rheumatic cardiopathies, or the prognosis of some heart diseases, avoiding risks in the sport activity.
Know what the stress test for athletes is and how it is done (available in Spanish)
To whom it is addressed:
- Sportsmen and women, professionals or amateurs, who wish to improve their performance.
- Athletes who want to know their state of health and possible contraindications for doing a certain sport.
- Any person, child or adult, who wants to start safely in the practice of sports.
Do you want to practice sport in the safest way?
You may need to have a stress test
How is the stress test for athletes carried out?
Conducting the stress test on athletes
The exercise stress test in athletes is a safe, supervised clinical procedure that begins before starting the workout.
First, the physician reviews the medical and training history and may perform a basic physical examination, listening to the heart and lungs. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothing and appropriate athletic shoes.
For preparation, electrodes are placed on the chest (and sometimes on the arms and legs) to record the heart’s electrical activity through an electrocardiogram (ECG). A blood pressure cuff is also applied to the arm. The athlete begins exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike at low intensity, which is gradually increased. For cyclists, the test can even be performed on their own bicycle to obtain more precise data.
During the test, the medical team continuously monitors the ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and possible symptoms such as chest pain or dizziness. In advanced versions, such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), breathing is also analyzed with a mask to measure oxygen consumption. The test is stopped once the athlete reaches maximum fatigue, the target heart rate, or if clinical signs appear that indicate it should be discontinued.
Types of stress tests
In athletes, stress tests are not only used to rule out heart problems, but also to evaluate physical performance, optimize training, and ensure safe participation in demanding competitions.
Conventional exercise testing involves performing activity on a treadmill or stationary bike while monitoring the electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure. It is useful for detecting arrhythmias, although its sensitivity for identifying coronary artery disease in asymptomatic individuals is limited.
The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET or ergospirometry) is the most comprehensive in sports medicine. It measures maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O₂ max) and helps determine aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, both essential for training planning. In addition, it can rule out heart conditions that only appear with maximal exertion. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends considering cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as V̇O₂ max, as a true “vital sign.”
In specific cases, imaging techniques such as stress echocardiography or nuclear testing are added, providing information about heart contraction and blood flow.
Finally, high-intensity exercise protocols (HIXT) are useful in young athletes to better replicate the real conditions of their sport and to facilitate the detection of exercise-induced arrhythmias.
What happens after the test
After the test you can resume your normal activities.
During the subsequent sports practices, you should take into account the recommendations based on your aerobic and anaerobic thresholds to achieve greater sports performance.
Where do we do it?
IN NAVARRE AND MADRID
The Sports Medicine Area
of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Sports Medicine Area of the Clinica is the official medical provider of Club Atlético Osasuna at its headquarters in Pamplona.
It is composed of cardiologists specialized in cardiac pathology in sports with a wide experience in the professional sports world, pneumologists, traumatologists, nutritionists, radiologists, physiotherapists and specialists in internal medicine, in order to achieve a multidisciplinary approach to the patient.
Attention to sportsmen and women
- Advanced sports assessment.
- Elite sports rating.
- Prevention of sudden death.
- Children's sports assessment.
Why at the Clinica?
- We have the most advanced technology for the diagnosis and treatment of the athlete.
- Experts in treatments in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology.
- We work closely with physiotherapists to achieve maximum performance of athletes.
Our team of professionals
