1. EXERCISE TEST IN THE FIELD EQUI-TEST 06-07/06/08

2. Presentation • Claire Leleu, DVM, PhD • Equi-Test : private sports medicine unit 2006 • Geographic situation • Activities : Service to trainers : selection, training 300 – 400 tests / year 4500 tests, 2500 horses  Applied research for labs : nutrition, equipment  Polar consulting

3. CONTENTS • Background of exercise physiology • Exercise test : what for ? How ? • Determination of variables • Interpretation and practical interests in :  Selection,  Evaluation of the level of fitness,  Programmation of training

4. Exercise physiology Treadmill : • Ventilation and gas exchange • Heart rate • Lactates • Blood gas analysis • Central temperature • Airways and blood pressures…

5. Exercise physiology : HR • Resting HR 25 – 40 bpm Influenced by stress Indicates general health status Not a good predictor of fitness and capacity

6. Exercise physiology : HR • Max HR 210 – 255 bpm Not modified by age and training Race / training

7. Exercise physiology : HR • Working HR linear up to max HR Influenced by age,training Indicator of fitness and capacity

8. Exercise physiology : Lactates Blood or plasma lactates Result from muscle activity Increase exponentially with speed Muscular fatigue

9. Exercise test : what for ? Standardized Exercise Test : • Relation between speed and heart rate  Index of « cardiac aptitude » • Relation between speed and lactates  Indirect index of aerobic capacity • Relation between heart rate and lactates  guidelines for training intensity

10. Exercise test : how ? • Measurement of speed and heart rate

11. Exercise test : how ? • Measurement of lactates Immediate sampling after exercise Fluorure oxalate tubes ± deproteinisation Lab or portable analysers (accutrend, Lactate pro…) La Plasma > La Blood (x 1.5)

12. Exercise test : how ? • Standardisation of exercise 3 x 3 min 1 min recovery Steady speed and heart rate (flat track)

13. Exercise test : how ? • Others parameters to consider Level of training Level of performance Track (depth and design) • Goals : La > 4 mmol/l FC > 200 bpm

14. Exercise test : how ? • Results

15. Determination of variables • Definitions : V200 : velocity for HR = 200 bpm V4 : velocity for La = 4 mmol/l V2 : velocity for La = 2 mmol/l HR 4 : HR for La = 4 mmol/l HR 2 : HR for La = 2 mmol/l

16. Determination of variables HR4 HR2 V200 V2 V4

17. Determination of variables • Example

18. Interpretation of variables • Factors of variation : age track fitness V4 / V200 weather aptitude equipment Behaviour / pain

19. Interpretation of variables • age

20. Interpretation of variables • age 1’30 1’40 2’00

21. Interpretation of variables • Level of fitness • Horse back to training < horse in preparation < horse competing

22. Interpretation of variables • Physical aptitude • High level horse > low level horse • Demonstration….