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Patient Education

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Exercise Electrocardiogram (EKG)

Test Overview

An exercise electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test that checks for changes in your heart while you exercise. Sometimes EKG abnormalities can be seen only during exercise or while you have symptoms. This test is sometimes called a "stress test" or a "treadmill test." During an exercise EKG, you may either walk on a motor-driven treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle.

The heart is a muscular pump made up of four chambers, Opens dialog. The two upper chambers are called atria, and the two lower chambers are called ventricles. A natural electrical system, Opens dialog causes the heart muscle to contract and pump blood through the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body.

An exercise EKG, Opens dialog translates the heart's electrical activity into line tracings on paper. The spikes and dips in the line tracings are called waves.

A resting EKG is always done before an exercise EKG test. Then results of the resting EKG are compared to the results of the exercise EKG. A resting EKG may also show a heart problem that would make an exercise EKG unsafe.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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