The gait lab is equipped with, a portable gas exchange analysis system with an integrated ECG device.
Gas exchange analysis is considered the highest standard for measuring endurance performance. The patient or test person is instrumented with a mask over mouth and nose, and a sensor is attached to the front of the mask to analyze the volume, as well as O2 and CO2 concentration of the expiration.
From these values, conclusions can be drawn about the individual fitness level during increasing work rates. These values are not only relevant for athletes for individual training planning, but also for patients, e.g. individual risk assessment prior to surgical interventions. Gas exchange analysis, especially in combination with the assessment of heart rate, can reveal performance limitations as a result of side effects of drug therapy (B-blockers, thyroid hormones, asthma medications).
In the division of Geriatric Medicine, gas exchange analysis is used to determine the individual endurance capacity of older adults as a potential risk factor for falls and gait instability.