1. What is the Bruce Protocol METs Equation?

The Bruce Protocol is a standardized treadmill test used to assess cardiovascular fitness. The equation estimates metabolic equivalents (METs) from the duration of exercise achieved during the test.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Bruce Protocol equation:

Where:

• \( T \) — Exercise time in minutes

Explanation: The equation provides a cubic relationship between exercise duration and estimated energy expenditure in METs.

3. Importance of METs Calculation

Details: METs are useful for assessing functional capacity, prescribing exercise intensity, and evaluating cardiovascular health.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total time completed on the Bruce protocol treadmill test in minutes. The value must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the Bruce Protocol treadmill test?
A: It's a graded exercise test where treadmill speed and incline increase every 3 minutes until exhaustion.

Q2: What are normal METs values?
A: Healthy individuals typically achieve 10+ METs. Values below 5 METs indicate poor functional capacity.

Q3: How accurate is this equation?
A: It provides a good estimate but actual METs may vary based on individual factors like weight and efficiency.

Q4: Can this be used for other exercise tests?
A: No, this equation is specific to the Bruce protocol treadmill test.

Q5: What's the clinical significance of METs?
A: Higher achieved METs correlate with better cardiovascular health and lower mortality risk.