Treadmill testing is one way of measuring a person's aerobic fitness. The American College of Sports Medicine says that the Bruce protocol for treadmill testing is advantageous due to its relatively short time period. The Bruce protocol uses three-minute changes in intensity level that cause most non-conditioned people to end their testing in around nine minutes. If you are conducting a treadmill test, obtain your client's doctor's clearance first and then record the client's pre-test blood pressure and heart rate.
Step 1
Set the treadmill speed to 1.7 mph and incline to 10 percent. Ask the client to begin walking. After two minutes, record your client's blood pressure (BP) and heart rate. Record the client's rate of perceived exertion (RPE) asking how he feels on a scale from zero to 10 where zero is sitting still and 10 is running up a large hill. Continue this speed and incline for a total of three minutes.
Step 2
Increase the speed to 2.5 mph and the incline to 12 percent. Record BP, heart rate and RPE after two minutes at this intensity. Continue this speed and incline for a total of three minutes.
Step 3
Increase the speed to 3.4 mph and the incline to 14 percent. Record BP, heart rate and RPE after two minutes at this intensity, which equals nine minutes total testing time. Continue this intensity for a total of three minutes.
Step 4
Increase the treadmill speed to 4.2 mph and the incline to 16 percent. Record BP, heart rate and RPE after two minutes at this level. Keep this speed and incline for a total of three minutes.
Step 5
Increase speed to 5.0 mph and incline to 18 percent. Record BP, heart rate and RPE after two minutes at this stage. Monitor your client for signs of breathing distress or chest pains. Continue current stage for one more minute. Ask your client if he wants to continue the treadmill test.
Step 6
Increase speed to 5.5 mph and incline to 20 percent. Record BP, heart rate and RPE after two minutes at this pace. Continue to monitor your client for signs of fatigue as you keep speed and incline constant for one more minute.
Step 7
Increase speed to 6.0 mph and incline to 22 percent. Record BP, heart rate and RPE after two minutes. Watch your client for signs of distress, and ask him if he wants to continue. Keep this speed and incline constant for one more minute.
Step 8
Slow the treadmill's speed and incline gradually to return your client's BP and heart rate to near resting levels.
Things You'll Need
- Treadmill
- Blood pressure monitor
- Clock
- Paper
- Pen
References
- "ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription"; 1991
- Health-Calc: Bruce Treadmill Test
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