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What are the steps to perform an exercise metabolic rate test?

Step1 Set Up the System
Press the On/Off key on the front of the CardioCoach to turn on the system.  The green light below the on/off key will be lit when the device is powered on. 

Step 2.  Select Test Type
After the device has been turned on, it will prompt the user to select the type of test to be run.  The test type options are Step Test, Cycle, Treadmill, and Other. 

Step 3.  Enter the age, height, weight, and sex
The CardioCoach needs data about the subject to be able to make calculations that are included on the report. The user is prompted to enter the age, height, weight, and sex of the user.  To enter a value, press the up and down arrow keys until the desired value is shown on the screen.  Once the desired value is shown, press the “Enter” key.  When enter is pressed, the value is stored, and the user is prompted to enter the next value.  After all the data has been stored, the CardioCoach proceeds to the calibration stage.

Step 4. Wait for automatic calibration to complete
The CardioCoach is completely Self-Calibrating.  The user should not need to perform any calibration procedures other than removing the breathing hose prior to calibration. During calibration, the CardioCoach draws room air past the oxygen sensor. Removing the breathing hose from the filter during calibration assures the free flow of air coming out of the CardioCoach.  After the oxygen sensor has been calibrated to room air, the system detects baseline, or zero, flow.

Step 5. Connect the mask to the subject. The CardioCoach needs to analyze all of the air exhaled during the test.  If the subject were to inhale through the system, the resulting measurements would be in error and there would be a chance of cross-contamination.  To prevent inhaling through the system, one-way valves are used to ensure that only exhaled gasses enter the breathing hose.  During inspiration, the intake valve is open allowing room air to enter the mask or mouthpiece and the exit valve is closed ensuring that no room air enters the CardioCoach.   During exhalation, the intake valve is closed to prevent leakage to the room and the exit valve is open ensuring that all expired gas passes through the CardioCoach.   A head strap is used to hold the mask in place during the test. 

Make sure that the heart rate pick up is plugged into the front of the CardioCoach in the connector labeled “heart rate jack”.  The heart rate receiver should be placed less than 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) from the heart rate monitor.  If the subject’s heart rate is displayed on the red numeric digits, then the heart rate monitor is working.

Step 6. Connect the hose between the mask and the CardioCoach.
At the conclusion of calibration, the CardioCoach display will show “Calibration Complete, Waiting for First Breath”.  When this message is shown, connect the hose between the mask and the CardioCoach.

Step 7.  Conduct the Exercise Test.
The exercise test consists of a test phase and a recovery phase.  In the test phase, exercise intensity should be increased gradually over a period of 6 to 20 minutes until the subject reaches his or her maximum exertion level.

If the desired outcome is to determine the anaerobic threshold only, then the exercise test need only proceed until the “AT DETECTED” message is shown on the CardioCoach text display.   If the goal of the test is to determine Max VO2, then the exercise intensity should be increased until the subject indicates that his or her maximum intensity level has been met.

At the end of exercise, press the enter key to begin the recovery phase.

Step 8. Print the Report.
A report will be printed when the “Enter” key is pressed at any time during the recovery phase.

After the report is printed and the test is complete the CardioCoach can be turned off.  To perform another test, turn on the CardioCoach again and repeat steps 1 through 8 above.