title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Altman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000075202:Contraindications; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D010353:Patient Education as Topic