Comparative value of arm and leg exercise testing.

Arm exercise test (AET) is described as an alternative to the classical leg exercise test (LET). The value of these two types of exercise was studied in a group of 32 patients aged 34 to 65 years. The patients performed LET for several reasons and, after 24 hrs, AET under the same conditions. The effort level reached under LET was always greater than that achieved under AET and the calculated functional aerobic impairment (FAI) was 50% greater during AET thus supporting the idea that AET cannot be used instead of LET in determining the functional capacity (NYHA) of cardiac patients. However, AET remains useful for the determination of the occupational working capacity in certain occupational categories. The double product (DP) (or index tension time (ITT) calculated after AET represented 85% of the calculated value after LET. The results proved that MVO2 is similar for both LET and AET, but in the latter at lower levels of exercise (VO2). The LET-DP was greater than the AET-DP in 66.5% of our cases, thus suggesting that AET should be reserved for situations in which LET cannot be performed. This is also supported by the presence of ST depression during AET in only 66% of the 18 subjects with ST depression during LET and in five of the six patients without ST depression, DP-AET was lower than DP-LET.