VO2 Max Testing

What is VO2 Max?

VO2 max is an abbreviation for maximum volume of oxygen.  It’s a measurement of how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise.  It’s shown as millilitres of oxygen per kilogram per minute (ml/kg/min).  A higher VO2 max means your heart, lungs, and muscles work efficiently, which is great for health.

Why is a High VO2 Max Important?

Low VO2 results are linked to higher chances of heart disease and chronic illness and overall poorer quality of life.  So increasing your VO2 max is important to:

1. Stay Healthier: Higher VO2 max lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
2. Live Longer:  Higher VO2 max levels are able to stay active and live longer.

How to Improve VO₂ Max

Improving VO2 max helps you live a longer, healthier life.  It’s a powerful way to support your heart, body, and mind for years to come.

1. Low-Intensity Exercise (Zone 2): Do extended periods of low-intensity exercise, like brisk walking or cycling, 3-4 times a week will assist in building mitochondrial.  More mitochondria help produce energy more effectively, which supports endurance and reduces fatigue during both physical and daily activities.
2. High-Intensity Intervals: Using some short bursts of higher effort exercise can boost your heart strength and lung capacity to increase the amount of oxygen that can be transported around your body.

We are able to conduct a VO2 max test on treadmill, or bike that will result in a detailed VO2 max report.  From this our qualified exercise physiologists can provide personalised exercise advice to help monitor and improve your health.

What is my VO₂ Max Score?

Most smartwatches can estimate VO2 max, however they are often found be unreliable when compared to laboratory grade testing.

A variety of aerobic tests have been developed using different inputs such as time, speed, power and heart rate.  These methods use formula’s to estimate VO2 based on comparisons to averaged results.  These can provide a quick estimate, however results will vary depending on the method.

Our qualified exercise physiologists perform scientific testing protocol using a device that measures the actual oxygen consumption during exercise for the most accurate results.