Bruce Protocol Stress Test

The Bruce Test is commonnly used treadmill exercise stress test. It was developed as a clinical test to evaluate patients with suspected coronary heart disease, though it can also be used to estimate cardiovascular fitness. See also a general description of Exercise Stress Tests.

aim: to evaluate cardiac function and fitness. equipment required: treadmill, stopwatch, heart rate monitor procedure: Exercise is performed on a treadmill. If required, the leads of the ecg are placed on the chest wall. The treadmill is started at 2.74 km/hr (1.7 mph) and at a gradient (or incline) of 10%. At three minute intervals the incline of the treadmill increases by 2%, and the speed increases as shown in the table below. Stage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Speed (km/hr) 2.74 2.74 2.74 4.02 5.47 6.76 8.05 8.85 9.65 10.46 11.26 12.07 Speed (mph) 1.7 1.7 1.7 2.5 3.4 4.2 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 Gradient 0 5 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

modifications: There is a commonly used Modified Bruce protocol, which starts at a lower workload than the standard test, and is typically used for elderly or sedentary patients. The fist two stages of the Modified Bruce Test are performed at a 1.7 mph and 0% grade and 1.7 mph and 5% grade, and the third stage corresponds to the first stage of the Standard Bruce Test protocol as listed above. results: The test score is the time taken on the test, in minutes. This can also be converted to an estimated VO2max score using the calculator below and the following formulas, where the value "T" is the total time completed (expressed in minutes and fractions of a minute e.g. 9 minutes 15 seconds = 9.25 minutes). As with many exercise test equations, there have been many regression equations developed that may give varying results. If possible, use the one derived from a similar population and which best suits your needs.

VO2max (ml/kg/min) = 14.76 - (1.379 T) + (0.451 T) - (0.012 T) Women: VO2max (ml/kg/min) = 2.94 x T + 3.74 Young Women: VO2max (ml/kg/min) = 4.38 T - 3.9 ref: ACSM's Health-Related Physical Fitness Assessment Manual

VO2 Max values for Women as measured in ml/kg/min Very Poor <25.0 <23.6 <22.8 <21.0 <20.2 <17.5

Age 13-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+

Poor 25.0-30.9 23.6-28.9 22.8-26.9 21.0-24.4 20.2-22.7 17.5-20.1

Fair 31.0-34.9 29.0-32.9 27.0-31.4 24.5-28.9 22.8-26.9 20.2-24.4

Good 35.0-38.9 33.0-36.9 31.5-35.6 29.0-32.8 27.0-31.4 24.5-30.2

Excellent 39.0-41.9 37.0-41.0 35.7-40.0 32.9-36.9 31.5-35.7 30.3-31.4

Superior >41.9 >41.0 >40.0 >36.9 >35.7 >31.4