exercise ECG
Electrocardiographic monitoring performed during progressive exercise testing.
Full Definition
Exercise ECG involves continuous electrocardiographic monitoring during graded exercise testing to assess cardiac electrical activity under physiological stress. This diagnostic tool is fundamental in sports cardiology for evaluating exercise-induced arrhythmias, chronotropic response, and ST-segment changes that may indicate underlying coronary artery disease or channelopathies. The test typically follows standardized protocols with progressive workload increases while monitoring for symptoms, blood pressure response, and ECG abnormalities. In athletic populations, exercise ECG helps identify conditions that may predispose to sudden cardiac death and guides return-to-play decisions following cardiac events.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'ECG' consistently rather than 'EKG' in formal medical writing.
In Context
- "The exercise ECG revealed ventricular ectopy that increased with exercise intensity in the distance runner." — cardiology evaluation
- "Protocols recommend exercise ECG as part of comprehensive cardiac screening for master's athletes." — screening guidelines