This test is mainly used to see if intermittent symptoms, such as chest pain, dysphagia and heartburn, are related to problems with contraction of the food pipe. Sometimes the food pipe can spasm, causing pain. Because this spasm may occur intermittently, this test allows a longer period of time to look at food pipe pressure. The most common conditions studied are:

• Diffused esophageal spasms (DES), which create problems with swallowing
• Nutcracker esophagus, which is high-pressure movement of the food pipe
• Nonspecific esophageal motility disorders and symptoms, such as non-cardiac chest pain and intermittent trouble swallowing