Cardiac Output
L/min
~5 to 20-25 L/min
Relative magnitude
Clinical Guides | Reference Library | Exercise Physiology
Resources
Clinical reference materials, downloadable guides, and a CPET terminology glossary for clinicians
Curated by Dr. Chaudhry from peer-reviewed literature and clinical practice
Clinical Guides & Downloads
Protocol and interpretation resources for clinicians and lab staff
CPET Protocol Requirements Guide
Best Practices Guidelines to obtain optimal results including equipment, calibration, patient instructions and data submission requirements for sending cases to CPET-Insight
Measured and Derived CPET Parameters
Comprehensive reference listing all directly measured and algorithmically derived variables included in the CPET-Insight analysis - with units, normal ranges, and clinical significance
CPET Interpretation Framework Overview
Introduction to the CPET-Insight mechanism-based interpretative analysis
Physiological Changes from Rest to Peak Exercise
Healthy adults | key cardiopulmonary parameters
| Parameter | Change | Clinical detail | Relative magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac & Oxygen Transport | |||
| Cardiac OutputL/min | ↑ ~5x | ~5 to 20-25 L/min | |
| VO₂L/min | ↑ 10-15x | Largest relative increase among all parameters | |
| VCO₂L/min | ↑ 15-25x | ~0.2 to 3-5 L/min, amplified above AT by bicarbonate buffering | |
| Stroke VolumemL/beat | ↑ ~1.5x | ~70 to 110 mL/beat | |
| O₂ PulsemL/beat | ↑ ~5x | VO₂ / HR ratio | |
| Heart Rate & Blood Pressure | |||
| Heart Ratebeats/min | ↑ ~3x | Primary driver of cardiac output rise | |
| Systolic BPmmHg | ↑ 60-100 | ~60-100 mmHg increase from rest | |
| Diastolic BPmmHg | ↔ No change | No change or slight decrease, <10 mmHg | |
| Gas Exchange & Ventilation | |||
| RERVCO₂/VO₂ | ↑ ~1.4x | 0.75-0.85 at rest, ≥1.10 supports maximal effort | |
| Minute VentilationL/min | ↑ ~20x | 5-10 to 100-200 L/min | |
| Peripheral Extractiona-vO₂ diff | ↑ ~3-4x | 5 to 15-20 mL/100 mL blood | |
Sources: PMC4551211 | British Journal of Sports Medicine 39(4):190 | healthy adults, rest to peak exercise
Cardiac & Oxygen Transport
↑ ~5x
VO₂
L/min
Largest relative increase among all parameters
Relative magnitude
VCO₂
L/min
~0.2 to 3-5 L/min, amplified above AT by bicarbonate buffering
Relative magnitude
Stroke Volume
mL/beat
~70 to 110 mL/beat
Relative magnitude
O₂ Pulse
mL/beat
VO₂ / HR ratio
Relative magnitude
Heart Rate & Blood Pressure
Heart Rate
beats/min
Primary driver of cardiac output rise
Relative magnitude
Systolic BP
mmHg
~60-100 mmHg increase from rest
Relative magnitude
Diastolic BP
mmHg
No change or slight decrease, <10 mmHg
Relative magnitude
Gas Exchange & Ventilation
RER
VCO₂/VO₂
0.75-0.85 at rest, ≥1.10 supports maximal effort
Relative magnitude
Minute Ventilation
L/min
5-10 to 100-200 L/min
Relative magnitude
Peripheral Extraction
a-vO₂ diff
5 to 15-20 mL/100 mL blood
Relative magnitude
Sources: PMC4551211 | British Journal of Sports Medicine 39(4):190 | healthy adults, rest to peak exercise
Mechanisms of Exercise Limitation
Diagnostic workflow for symptomatic patients, where the mechanism of exercise limitation helps identify the physiologic source of symptoms
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