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 total exercise time achieved during the test, providing a measure of exercise capacity.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Bruce Protocol equation:

Where:

• \( T \) — Total exercise time in minutes

Explanation: The equation accounts for the non-linear relationship between exercise time and energy expenditure during the standardized Bruce Protocol test.

3. Importance of METs Calculation

Details: METs provide a standardized way to measure exercise intensity and cardiovascular fitness. Higher MET values indicate better cardiovascular fitness.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total exercise time achieved during the Bruce Protocol test in minutes. The time should be accurate to the nearest 10 seconds (0.1 minutes).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good METs score?
A: For healthy adults, 10+ METs is excellent. Below 5 METs indicates poor cardiovascular fitness.

Q2: How does the Bruce Protocol work?
A: It's a graded exercise test where treadmill speed and incline increase every 3 minutes until exhaustion.

Q3: What are typical MET values at each stage?
A: Stage 1 (1.7 mph, 10% grade) ≈ 5 METs, increasing by 2-3 METs per subsequent stage.

Q4: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: Accuracy decreases for very short (<3 min) or very long (>20 min) test durations.

Q5: Can this be used for non-Bruce protocol tests?
A: No, this equation is specific to the standardized Bruce Protocol.