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Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab

Akron Children’s Hospital offers cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to identify factors causing exercise intolerance and exercise-induced dyspnea (EID). It can also be useful in:

  • Diagnosing and managing mitochondrial myopathy
  • Differentiating between cardiac and pulmonary limitations in patients with repaired congenital heart defects
  • Estimating prognosis in cystic fibrosis patients

This non-invasive testing analyzes circulatory, respiratory and metabolic functions during incremental exercise on a stationary bike or treadmill.

The CPET lab is a collaboration of pulmonary medicine, cardiology, neurology and sports medicine. The lab’s equipment includes a treadmill and exercise bike with separate monitors for metabolic parameters and EKG.

Measurements obtained during CPET include:

  • Metabolic rate
    • Oxygen consumption (VO2)
    • CO2 production (VCO2)
    • Respiratory exchange ratio
  • Cardiac function
    • Heart rate
    • EKG
  • Respiratory function
    • Minute ventilation (VE)
    • VE /VO2 and VE /VCO2
    • SaO2
    • PETCO2

Indications for Referral

  • Patients may be referred to the CPET lab to:
  • Evaluate EID in patients with symptoms not consistent with EIB (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction)
  • Differentiate EIB from other causes of dyspnea (e.g., de-conditioning, physiological limitation,
  • early restrictive abnormalities, etc.)
  • Evaluate EID in known asthmatics despite appropriate treatment
  • Evaluate fitness level

For more information or to refer a patient, call 330-543-8885.


Robert Abood, MD, FAAP

Medical Director, Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab; Pediatric Pulmonologist

John Lane, MD, FACC

Director, Pediatric Cardiology and Adult Congenital Heart Service; Pediatric Cardiologist; Sunrise Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

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