VO2 Max Test
Measure how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise, a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness for runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes.
What is VO2 Max?
VO2 Max measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise, serving as a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness. Higher VO2 Max scores reflect superior cardiovascular health, and improving this metric can help you run, cycle, or swim longer distances with less effort and reduced fatigue.
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Visit one of our facilities in London, Hampshire or Surrey.
Why take a VO2 Max Test:
While smartwatches provide VO2 Max estimates using heart rate, age, and activity data, they can only make educated guesses about your cardiovascular fitness.
Professional VO2 Max testing at BodyScan uses specialized laboratory equipment to directly measure oxygen consumption during intense exercise. By analysing your breathing patterns and precise oxygen usage, we deliver clinically accurate results that provide a reliable foundation for optimizing your training and performance goals.
What happens during the test?
You'll complete a 10-15 minute exercise session on either a treadmill or stationary bike, with intensity gradually increasing throughout the test. A comfortable face mask connected to our advanced monitoring system measures your respiratory gases, while heart rate sensors track your cardiovascular response to the progressive exercise intensity. This comprehensive monitoring provides the precise data needed for accurate VO2 Max assessment.
Stationary Bike VO2 Max Test
We offer VO2 Max testing on both stationary bicycles and treadmills to ensure the most accurate results for your specific fitness background. Treadmill tests typically yield scores 7%-18% higher than bicycle tests, as running engages more muscle groups throughout your body.
For optimal accuracy, we recommend bicycle testing for experienced cyclists and treadmill testing for all other athletes and fitness enthusiasts. This personalised approach ensures your results truly reflect your cardiovascular capacity in your preferred exercise modality.
Test Results
Your results will clearly show your current fitness level, a break down of your heart rate, VO2 Max rate and Calories burnt per hour across your aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, and the rate at which your heart rate recovers over 2 minutes.
You will also get a breakdown of your training zones. This gives you clear information about how many Calories you burn at what heart rate, as well as the speed and incline of the treadmill to achieve that. This enables you to better target your workouts to reach your goals.
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How can I improve my VO2 Max?
Enhance your VO2 Max through strategic High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) incorporated into your weekly routine. HIIT alternates between intense exercise bursts and recovery periods, maximizing cardiovascular adaptation and delivering superior results compared to steady-state cardio alone.
Your personalised BodyScan report provides the precise data needed to optimise your training zones. Your aerobic threshold sets your recovery and low-intensity zones for HIIT sessions, while your anaerobic threshold determines your high-intensity target zones for maximum effectiveness.
For optimal VO2 Max improvement, combine 2-3 weekly HIIT sessions with longer, moderate-intensity cardio workouts. Your comprehensive report includes specific heart rate ranges for these endurance sessions, ensuring you train at the perfect intensity to maximise your cardiovascular gains.
Locations
VO2 Max Tests are available at the following locations:
Frequently asked questions
Book now for just £149
Elevate your fitness journey to new heights, say goodbye to guesswork and hello to a visual representation of your hard work! Book into our personalised fitness service and embark on a path to a stronger, healthier, and more energised version of yourself.