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Strain Relief and Artifact
Because the patient is ambulatory and will be exercising, steps must be taken to ensure the best possible ECG
quality. The ECG quality may look good at rest but may not when the patient begins to exercise.
Artifact is frequently associated with poor electrode contact, poor skin preparation, and poor lead positioning.
Noisy ECG waveform, distortion of ECG complexes, wandering baseline, fuzzy ECG tracing, small ECG
complexes, false high heart rate values, and false arrhythmia detection all lead to inaccurate stress testing results.
WAM and AM12 Strain Relief
The wireless (WAM) or wired (AM12) acquisition module leadwires may pull on the electrode sites during exercise
if not secured properly.
1. Route the upper body leadwires upward, and then
curve downward.
2. Creation of a curve in all remaining leadwires will
prevent pulling on each electrode.
3. Affix the leadwires with adhesive skin tape as shown
that will not leave a residue on the leadwire.
4. As an alternative, a stress vest available from most
medical supply companies may be used.
CONDUCTING AN EXERCISE STRESS TEST
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