Before starting the test, a few minutes will be dedicated to preparing you for this special ultrasound.
- You will be asked to sit on the reclining bicycle and the staff will adjust it to fit your height (minimum height to use this bicycle is 140cm).
- 12 heart rhythm stickers will be applied on your chest. This will allow the doctors to monitor your heart’s electrical activity, or rhythm, while you are pedaling on the bicycle. Your blood pressure will also be monitored, before and during the test, and you will know when the measurements will take place at any given time.
- Lastly, if requested by your doctor or the research study, you will be wearing a special mask that allows us to measure the breathing gases.
Once ready to start the test, the bicycle will be reclined and tilted. The first set of images will be acquired by the sonographer before you start pedaling. Then you will be asked to start pedaling and maintain a steady pace of 60 rpm, the bicycle will show you your speed. Every three minutes, the resistance of the bicycle will be increased until you reach the target heart rate or when you can no longer maintain the requested pace of 60 rpm. The sonographer will acquire images of your heart at each stage of exercise. Once you reach your exercise peak, a cool down phase will occur, followed by the acquisition of the last set of images. We will continue to monitor you until your heart returns to the initial resting rhythm. A doctor will supervise the test, and as always, the team will maintain communication with you throughout the procedure to ensure your comfort and safety.
Participants are set up on a very specialized bicycle where they are slightly reclined with their left arm above their head. The sonographer captures ultrasound images of the heart while the participant is peddling!
