VO2 max, or maximal oxygen consumption, refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilise during intense or maximal exercise. This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. The more oxygen a person can use during high level exercise, the more energy a person can produce. This test is the gold standard for determining cardio-respiratory fitness because the muscles need oxygen for prolonged aerobic exercise, and the heart must pump adequate amounts of blood through the circulation to meet the demands of aerobic exercise.
VO2 Max Testing
By putting a face mask on the subject, we can directly measure the volume and gas concentrations of inspired and expired air. This measure is often used in research and is considered the most accurate. Usually carried out at the same time as a Lactate Threshold test, the VO2 max test involves running on a treadmill at an intensity that increases every few minutes until exhaustion, and is designed to achieve a maximal effort. We can also obtain the individual’s maximal heart rate from this test, which, along with resting heart rate, can be used to develop a more precise target heart rate range.
What do we do with this information?
The data from the test give us your current fitness level and enables us show you how we can use this information to inform your training modalities and ultimately improve fitness and running performance.
*Included as standard on the Peak Performance package