VO2 Max Testing
Conveniently located to serve Portland, Scarborough, and Cumberland County Book a Free, Confidential ScreeningVO2 Max Testing
The Ultimate Test for Longevity & Fitness
Interested in improving your fitness, regardless of your age, gender, or fitness level? VO2 Max testing, also known as maximal oxygen consumption, is vital for those wanting to understand and optimize fitness and provide the foundation you need for increased health, endurance and longevity. At the Age Management Center in Portland, we are proud to be premier providers of VO2 Max testing in Maine and New England.
Whether you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or just starting a new healthy living journey, our new VO2 Max test is the key to reaching your goals.
VO2 Max testing is an unmatched way to understand and optimize fitness and give you the info you need to increase health, endurance and longevity. With our state-of-the-art equipment and expert staff, you’ll get a detailed and personalized assessment that can:
- Optimize your workouts, finding the perfect intensity to boost your endurance and results.
- Track your progress, helping you set personalized, realistic goals and monitor your fitness journey with measurable data.
- Gain insights into your overall cardiovascular health and detect potential cardiovascular issues early.
- And more.
VO2 Max testing is ideal for both athletes and those interested in enhancing their wellness, exercise programs and longevity.
- Individuals use VO2 Max testing to assess their overall fitness level, identify potential health risks early – including cardiovascular health issues, and establish a baseline for their personal exercise program so they can get more out of their workouts.
- For athletes, both pro and amateur, VO2 Max testing is used to measure aerobic capacity, which is a key indicator of endurance and performance in your sport. Athletes typically undergo VO2 Max testing to determine their training zones, optimize their training programs, and monitor their progress over time. It is simply the gold standard of aerobic fitness.
What is VO2 Max testing?
VO2 Max testing is a test to determine the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. This measurement is considered the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance, as the more oxygen a person can use during high-level exercise, the more energy a person can produce.
According to Peter Attia MD, “The maximum amount of oxygen that a person can utilize during intense exercise is known as VO2 max, and it is, generally speaking the best indicator of aerobic performance and cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF]. VO2 max is directly related to the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to muscles, which depends very much on cardiac output… high cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by maximal exercise testing is a predictor of both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.”
What to expect during a VO2 Max Test?
VO2 Max testing is the gold standard for determining cardio-respiratory fitness.
The VO2 max testing can be provided as either a stand-alone evaluation or, more commonly, in combination with our premium longevity program. In either case, the efficient but comprehensive process begins with a detailed overview of the test and why the results are important to your health. You will complete a short health questionnaire and read and sign the corresponding consent form. We will also take basic vital signs prior to the actual testing protocol. Once these steps are complete, you will be fitted with a face mask connected to a machine that analyzes the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide exhaled, while their heart rate is monitored with a chest strap heart rate monitor.
You will then begin exercising on a machine, such as a treadmill, bike or rower at an intensity that increases every few minutes until “exhaustion”, while measuring the volume and gas concentrations of the air you breathe in (inspire) and the air you breathe out (expire). You can opt to perform a submaximal test, in which case the VO2 max will be extrapolated, or keep going for a maximal test, depending upon how you feel while exercising. This allows for the direct measurement of the muscles’ need for oxygen during prolonged aerobic exercise and the heart’s ability to pump adequate amounts of blood through the circulation to meet the demands of aerobic exercise.
Results are available rapidly following your test.
Who is a candidate for VO2 Max testing?
A good candidate for this important test is an individual who is interested in improving their health, wellness and fitness levels, regardless of their age, gender, or current fitness ability.
The test can be a great help to individuals who are not seeing results despite their efforts at the gym by identifying the specific heart rate zone required for fat burning. We can also obtain a resting energy expenditure test on anyone, which does not require any exercise at all. It is performed in a resting person who has fasted for four hours and provides information about how many calories you burn at a baseline. This can help guide efforts for diet and exercise planning.
VO2 Max testing is also ideal for endurance athletes, marathoners, or anyone training for a fitness event, as it provides valuable information about aerobic ability and calorie burn related to heart rate.
What can you do with the results of VO2 Max testing?
VO2 Max testing is a valuable tool for assessing cardiovascular fitness, identifying potential health risks, optimizing performance, and personalizing weight loss and fat burning strategies. By measuring the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during intense exercise, this test can provide valuable insights into an individual’s physiological responses to exercise, helping them achieve their health and wellness goals.
1. Accurate Assessment of Fitness Levels:
2. Identification of Health Risks:
3. Optimization of Performance:
4. Personalized Weight Loss and Fat Burning Information:
5. Increased Energy and Stamina:
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I get VO2 Max testing done?
How long does a test take?
VO2 Max testing typically takes between 10 to 20 minutes, but adding Resting Energy Expenditure testing, as well as the warm up and cool down add time as well. . However, 10-20 minutes is generally sufficient to reach the peak oxygen consumption, allowing for an accurate measurement of VO2 Max.
It is worth noting that the duration of the test can be influenced by factors such as the individual's fitness level, age, and gender, as well as the type of exercise used during the test. For example, cycling may result in a shorter test duration compared to running, as cycling is generally less fatiguing than running at high intensities. Additionally, individuals with lower fitness levels may require longer test durations to reach a steady state of oxygen consumption and heart rate.
Where is the test completed?
How do you prepare for a VO2 max test?
To prepare for the test, individuals should wear comfortable athletic clothes and running shoes or biking shoes if applicable, avoid strenuous exercise 24 to 36 hours before the test, drink a lot of water in the 12 hours before the test, and avoid smoking, alcohol, or caffeine 12 to 24 hours before the test.
If the individual has had an illness affecting their gastrointestinal (GI) system or lungs within 2 weeks, they should not have a VO2 Max test. It is also important to inform your team about any medications taken, as some could affect the results or the individual's ability to perform the test.
The testing protocol for athletes and non-athletes is generally the same, involving a graded exercise test on a treadmill or stationary bike, treadmill or rower while wearing a face mask that measures the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in their breath. However, the intensity and duration of the test may vary depending on the individual's fitness level and goals. For athletes, the test may be more intense and challenging, while for non-athletes, the test may be less intense and focused on establishing a baseline for their exercise program.
How much does a VO2 Max test cost?
We offer both individual tests and longevity-wellness bundles to individuals interested in VO2 Max testing. For more information about specific costs, contact our team today.
Are you interested in taking your fitness and wellness to the next level? Contact us today to work with Maine’s premier VO2 max testing providers. We can schedule you for a free, no-commitment screening and start you on your path to ultimate wellness.
We proudly help individuals in Portland, Southern Maine and across New England optimize their health & wellness through VO2 Max testing, and beyond.
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