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In a group of 26 patients with various broncho-pulmonary diseases, the results of three types of exercise were compared : maximum supported power (PMS), maximum supported power + 20 W, and maximum tolerated power (PMT). The two first ones were made at constant power, the last one at increasing power (by 30 W, during three minutes). The comparison of the results indicates that there was no significant difference between the variables measured during PMT and PMS +20 W (power, oxygen uptake, cardiac frequency, oxygen pulse, ventilation). The changes in oxygen uptake, cardiac frequency, and ventilation, as the power increased, were not significantly different in the three types of exercise. In this group of patients, mean PMT was 121 W, mean PMS was 98 W, and the ratio PMS/PMT was thus 81%. To determine PMT first reduced the number of exercise-tests necessary to measure PMS (two or three tests depending on the patient).

Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was measured in 11 chronic bronchitics without heart failure or hypoxemia at rest and during maximal work load, using a triangular type of excerise with increasing power (30 W/3 min). Glycolysis was studied in these patients during rectangular exercises lasting 10 minutes, in which power was increased by steps from an average value of 45 % to 72 and 94 % of VO2 max. The metabolic response of lactate in blood is similar to normal, during the limited performances of these patients.