Home  Services  About Us Recipes  Resources  Contact Us  Health & Fitness Metabolic Testing What is VO2MAX? And what is the test used for?      More Metabolic Testing: VO2 FAQ What is VO2MAX and what is the test used for? Preparation Sheet (Cycling and Treadmill Tests) Checklist for Tests Testing Protocol VO2MAX is an abbreviation for the maximum amount of oxygen your body is capable of using to make energy. These levels are lowest at rest (where heart rates are lowest), and increase in a linear fashion as exercise intensity, and heart rate, increases. VO2MAX is used in a variety of disciplines because it is an excellent indicator of how well the cardiopulmonary system is functioning. Activities of daily living require a minimum amount of oxygen to complete, therefore it is necessary to maintain as high a VO2 as possible for as long as possible. Additionally, in the field of endurance athletics, a higher VO2MAX is oftentimes a good indicator of performance potential in endurance endeavors like cycling, running and multisport events like triathlons, duathlons and adventure racing. By completing a VO2MAX test your fitness level can be evaluated more precisely, thereby making changes and improvements to your current training regimen that will help you attain your goals. Incorporating additional VO2MAX tests every few months is a great way to track your progress and measure your health as it improves. As this test is performed in a controlled environment, and is a specific scientific measure of each individual, the information obtained is much more specific than that based on predictions and equations made for large populations. With this exact information, training zones based on your heart rate can be made so that your workouts are organized more efficiently and effectively. Anyone, from sedentary people to elite athletes can benefit from the VO2MAX test. Whether it is to improve your overall health, or to improve your performance, this test is set up individually to provide you with the information you need to reach your fitness goals by training smarter. A properly conducted VO2MAX test will last only between 6 and 12 minutes. The test begins at an exercise intensity that you are comfortable with, and gradually increases in intensity until you are working as hard as you can. You will be breathing into a mouthpiece to measure the amount of oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide expired while working at the various exercise intensities. As the exercise intensity increases, so will the amount of oxygen (VO2) you inspire, up to a maximal point known as your VO2MAX. Upon conclusion of the test, your results will be explained to you personally. Information regarding how to incorporate this information into your training goals will be covered as well. This will include areas such as how frequent you should exercise, what intensity you should exercise at, and for how long you should exercise for. Finally, your specific heart rate zones will be explained to you to aid in a more effective exercise regimen, specifically designed to reach your overall health and fitness goals.   Set up your appointment today! Contact us at melissa@endurancerehab.com

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