VO2 Max: Test Your Potential and Train Smarter

The VO2max test precisely identifies your fitness level, pure endurance potential and cardiovascular degeneration. Discover yours if you want to exercise smarter, avoid training overload and detect the first signs of illness.

With the VO2max test, you will be able to:

1. Increase your energy and endurance levels.
   Proper training for your VO2max improves your body's energy network. It strengthens your heart, improves blood circulation and metabolism, and makes your muscles more efficient. Your own VO2max also increases.
2. Prevent overexertion.
   Overexertion is counterproductive to good health and fitness. It can also lead to injury, prolong recovery and stress your immune system.
3. Reduce your risk of disease.
   VO2max is a more reliable indicator of health and longevity than factors such as tobacco consumption, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Lower VO2max scores can mean lower energy levels and increased risk of certain diseases.

Our system is the same as that used by the NFL combine and major research hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic.

Your VO2 Max is a reflection of your aerobic power and your body's ability to maintain performance during prolonged and demanding activities. Calculating your VO2 Max is important for both athletes and non-athletes.

Ultimately, knowing the maximum amount of oxygen your body can consume is a crucial part of cardiorespiratory fitness. Endurance athletes, such as cross-country skiers who compete at high altitudes, regularly test and review their VO2 Max numbers. But even if you're not an athlete, understanding your VO2 Max score is important for your overall cardiorespiratory health."

We all have optimal training zones. However, most fitness tests only give you target heart rates based on averages using your age and weight.

Measure your VO2 max, anaerobic threshold and precise target heart rate with medical-grade technology.

Identify your unique target intensity zones.

One of the best indicators for ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY risk (i.e., if your VO2 max is low, you increase your risk of premature death).

Often we push ourselves thinking “no pain, no gain”. But the truth is, pushing past our optimal training zone leads to fatigue and discomfort.

This increases post-workout soreness, causes exercise-related injuries, and puts strain on the immune system.

However, when you know your VO2 max and target zones, you train smarter, not harder. Some even say that their exercise becomes “comfortable”, yet they obtain better results!

• You will wear a heart rate monitor and a face mask.
• The mask is connected to our medical grade metabolic cart (the same one used by the Mayo Clinic).
• You will start by walking on the treadmill or cycling to warm up. We will gradually increase your intensity over a period of 10 to 20 minutes.
• You will receive a consultation to review your results and ask any questions you may have.

Once you know your VO2 Max, you might ask yourself: How can I increase my VO2 Max? Here are some strategies that can help you:

1. Train at an intensity higher than about 60% of your VO2 max. Research shows that doing so will likely improve peak oxygen uptake in healthy adults.
2. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) at approximately 80-92.5% of your VO2 max. This intensity may be the ideal range of exercise intensity to elicit improvements in VO2 max, because both training volume and exercise intensity are low compared to moderate intensity training and supramaximal, respectively.
3. HIIT forces the heart to work at maximum effort for short periods, alternating with periods of recovery. Since you're working your heart rate at intense levels, HIIT will naturally increase your VO2 max.

For example, a person can perform kettlebell swings for 30 seconds, then cycle at a reduced-moderate intensity for 2 minutes, and repeat this circuit 5 to 6 times.

These are just a few strategies for improving your VO2 Max. To learn more, find a DexaFit location near you today!