What Is VO2 Max?

By Dan Carey, Phd., Health & Human Performance, Univ. of St. Thomas

[this is the second in a series of posts that will look at BMR, anaerobic threshold, and measuring anaerobic threshold]

VO2 max is the highest level of oxygen that can be consumed. It is a measure of how well the lungs can oxygenate the blood, how well the heart can pump that oxygenated blood, and finally how well the muscle can extract the oxygen.

This is usually measured on a treadmill or cycle ergometer and consists of multiple stages, beginning at low levels of exertion and progressing to fatigue. The test should last between 9 and 14 minutes. The subject will be wearing a heart rate monitor and have a mouthpiece in place to collect the expired air and send it to a gas analyzer to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide and total volume of expired air.

The following measures are calculated and given to the subject:
Resting heart rate
Maximal heart rate
VO2 max
Anaerobic threshold VO2
Anaerobic threshold heart rate
Anaerobic threshold watts (if cycle ergometer)

This data is then used by the personal trainer/coach to devise a training program that includes the aerobic zone, threshold zone and anaerobic zone. The basis for determining these zones is the anaerobic threshold heart rate. I would estimate that 80-90% of these tests that I do are the result of trainers/coaches requesting them for their athletes.