Dynamic bicycle exercise to assess cardiac output at multiple exercise levels during magnetic resonance imaging
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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Quantification of Mouse Heart Left Ventricular Function, Myocardial Strain, and Hemodynamic Forces by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: May 24, 2021
Johan Heiberg1, Benjamin Asschenfeldt1, Marie Maagaard1
1Dept. of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Purpose:
The aim was to establish a method for performing dynamic exercise during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a slowly increasing workload protocol.
Methods:
An ergometer bicycle with a step-wise, exercise protocol was used. Real-time phase-contrast MRI images of the aorta were obtained at each exercise step.
Results:
In total, 40 participants completed the exercise protocol to reach a mean maximum cardiac output of 13.7±3.7l/min and a heart rate of 150±16beats/min at the highest exercise level. Less than 1% of scans were discarded due to poor quality.
Conclusions:
Dynamic, high intensity exercise is feasible during MRI.
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