Research Corner - Q&A VO2 Max by Stephen Holt | Date Released : 07 Apr 2003 0 comments Print Close Question: Can you tell me why and how to measure someone's V02? Answer: "Why" depends upon the client and the trainer. Try to avoid testing VO2 max just because you find it interesting. Focus your testing on what's important to your client. If you're working with competitive athletes in certain sports or with clients with cardiovascular disease. However, it may make sense to assess their VO2 max. You can use it to validate and quantify the efficacy of your training methods and to prove qualitatively that you're progressing. The most accurate way to find out your client's VO2 max is to send them to a university physiology lab or a cardiologist.The test involves running to exhaustion on a treadmill (typically) while wearing a nose clip and breathing into a relatively uncomfortable mouthpiece. Only the most motivated clients will put up with the combination of the equipment and working to exhaustion. The most common tests to estimate VO2 max include: The Cooper 12 minute run The Balke 15 minute run The Rockport Fitness 1 mile walk A 1 1/2 mile run Obviously, you only need a track and a watch for these. You can perform these tests yourself with most "apparently healthy" individuals. For competitive runners, you can use the results of a recent 5 or 10K race to estimate VO2 max. Simply plug the race time into a VO2 max calculator, which can be found by doing a simple Internet search. From a business standpoint, these human performance labs, wellness centers and cardiologists make great referral sources whether you specialize in working with athletes or with clients with cardiovascular diseases. Once the subject catches his or her breath following a VO2 max test, the first question after "How did I do?" is "How can I improve that?" Back to top About the author: Stephen Holt Stephen is the Technical/Education Director of the Maryland Athletic Club and Wellness Center where he is responsible for all aspects of fitness education for over 60 colleagues. In addition to being one of the most popular fitness advisors on the web, Stephen has appeared in several national publications including Fit, Women's Sports and Fitness, Fitness Management and IDEA Personal Trainer. Holt is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board of both the American Medical Athletic Association and the American Running Association and serves on the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness in Maryland. He is the Immediate-past State Director of the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Stephen holds multiple certifications from ACSM, NSCA, ACE, the CHEK Institute, AAAI and the American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehab Professionals. Full Author Details Related content Content from Stephen Holt VO2 What? Gary Lavin | Articles Does Muscle Weigh More Than Fat? Heath Williams | Articles The Crossover Concept Bob Seebohar | Articles “Second Wind” During Cardio Bob Seebohar | Articles Breathing Problems with Running Stephen Holt | Articles Sprint vs. Long Distance Running for Weight Loss Stephen Holt | Articles Popliteus Knee Tendonitis Stephen Holt | Articles Anaphylaxis Stephen Holt | Articles Buergers Disease Stephen Holt | Articles Inversion Boots Stephen Holt | Articles Chinese Blood Letting Stephen Holt | Articles Sauna Fitness? Stephen Holt | Articles Macro, Meso- and Microcycles Stephen Holt | Articles Height Predictions Stephen Holt | Articles Double Jointed Client Stephen Holt | Articles Restless Legs Syndrome Stephen Holt | Articles Triple Extension – What is it? Stephen Holt | Articles High vs. Low Static Exercise Stephen Holt | Articles Aerobic Training Adaptation Stephen Holt | Articles Crosstrainer vs. Treadmill Stephen Holt | Articles Heart Rate Monitors and Caloric Expenditure Stephen Holt | Articles Spot Reduction for Thighs Stephen Holt | Articles Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss Stephen Holt | Articles VO2 Max Stephen Holt | Articles Genetics and Heart Disease Stephen Holt | Articles Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Physiology Stephen Holt | Articles Strength vs. Hypertrophy Stephen Holt | Articles Heart - Mitral Valve Prolapse Stephen Holt | Articles Low Blood Pressure and Exercise Stephen Holt | Articles Sleep Apnea Stephen Holt | Articles Heart Rate Targeting Stephen Holt | Articles Bilateral Sacroiliitis Stephen Holt | Articles Numb Arms and Legs when Running Stephen Holt | Articles Nausea During Workouts Stephen Holt | Articles Uneven Leg Length Stephen Holt | Articles Nerve Impingement Stephen Holt | Articles Rhomboid Knots with Exercise Stephen Holt | Articles Blood Pressure and Exercise Stephen Holt | Articles Uneven Shoulders Stephen Holt | Articles Tense Neck During Ab Work Stephen Holt | Articles Biomechanical Look at Triceps Stephen Holt | Articles Get Off Your Rear! Stephen Holt | Articles Please login to leave a comment Comments (0) Back to top