Indications for exercise tests in children

Exercise tests are routinely used in children to assess cardiorespiratory a nd muscular adaptations to exercise. However these tests are of relatively recent use, and there is a lack of standardization and of relevant data in large groups in this population. The aim of this paper was to specify the c ommon medical indications of exercise tests in children, to propose standar dized protocols of these tests in some of the most common pathological situ ations as: exercise-induced asthma, chronic respiratory diseases (bronchopu lmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis), muscular diseases. These tests can pro vide clinically relevant parameters only when they are used in strict condi tions of standardization.