VO₂max Test:
The Gold Standard of Fitness
Discover how fit you really are with the most accurate measure of cardiovascular health and endurance. Get clear results in just 45 minutes.
Why VO₂max matters
VO₂max shows how much oxygen your body can use during exercise. It is the best measure of your endurance, cardiovascular strength, and overall health.
What you gain from knowing your VO₂max:
- A clear picture of your current fitness level
- Targeted guidance to optimize training
- Insights into fat burning and energy use
- A reliable predictor of long-term health and independence
Measure your fitness in 45 minutes
- Safe and supervised by professionals
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test on bike
- Immediate results with expert explanation
- Includes VO₂max, HRmax, thresholds, and FatMax
How VO₂max Changes Through Life
The accompanying graph shows the VO₂max levels required for various everyday activities. It also shows how the VO₂max value naturally declines with age, making once-simple tasks progressively more challenging. For instance, while moderate jogging for an hour might feel easy at age 30, it becomes more demanding by your mid-50s.
With the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), we can determine your VO₂max and identify ways to improve it, helping you maintain ease in sports and daily activities as you age.
The orange line in the chart shows the typical average decline of VO₂max over time. The dashed turquoise line reflects what we aim to achieve with AYUN: enabling you to enjoy activities like hiking, gardening, or playing with your grandchildren—even into your 90s.
What metrics are assessed in a VO₂max test?
VO₂max
This represents the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during intense physical activity. A high VO₂max correlates with reduced cardiovascular risk, greater endurance, and improved longevity and quality of life.
Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax)
Your maximum heart rate (HRmax) is the highest heart rate achieved during the CPET. While it doesn't directly measure your fitness level, it helps determine training zones for your endurance workouts.
Heart Rate at Ventilatory Threshold 1 (VT1)
This indicates when your body begins shifting from aerobic metabolism to a mix of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism—essentially when it starts relying less on oxygen for energy. Improving VT1 reflects enhanced aerobic capacity, better mitochondrial efficiency, and increased recovery and performance capabilities.
Heart Rate at Ventilatory Threshold 2 (VT2)
This shows when lactate accumulates faster than your body can clear it, leading to rapid fatigue. Improving your VT2 heart rate means you can perform more intense activities before relying heavily on anaerobic metabolism, indicating better aerobic capacity and higher performance levels.
Heart Rate at FatMax (Maximum Fat Burn)
This identifies the heart rate at which your body uses the maximum percentage of fat for energy. Training at this heart rate can effectively promote fat loss. Regular training improves your mitochondrial efficiency, enabling faster fat-to-energy conversion.
How the Test Works
Book your free consultation
Do you still have questions? No problem! Book a free consultation with our sports scientist and get answers to all your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the benefit of knowing my VO₂max value?
This value is very helpful for your preventive health care. A low VO₂max means that your body can use less oxygen for daily activities and exercise, which can lead to faster fatigue, reduced athletic performance, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Knowing your VO₂max shows you how important targeted training is for you and gives you the tools to improve your health.
How quickly do I receive the results?
You’ll get your results immediately after the test, explained in detail by our exercise scientists.
Does the test hurt or is it dangerous?
No and no. The test is safe and professionally supervised by our exercise scientists. You’ll be monitored throughout and can stop at any time if you feel uncomfortable.
Who is the test suitable for?
For anyone who wants to understand their fitness and health level in detail and improve it purposefully – from health-conscious beginners to professional athletes. It’s especially valuable for people who want to proactively monitor their cardiovascular health.
I’m a recreational athlete and want to optimize my training. Is a VO₂max test recommended in this case?
Yes, absolutely. For recreational athletes, a VO₂max test is especially valuable because it shows you how to structure your training effectively – whether for endurance, fat burning, or cardiovascular fitness. Instead of training by feel, you’ll receive specific heart rate zones and training ranges that will significantly accelerate your progress.
I’m just getting back into exercise. Does it make sense to do a VO₂max test now?
Yes, a VO₂max test can be very useful when restarting, as it gives you a precise baseline and shows in which intensity ranges you can train safely and effectively. This helps you avoid pushing yourself too hard too soon. If you’ve been completely inactive for a longer period or have health concerns, we recommend consulting a doctor beforehand or starting with a gentle training approach. We’re happy to advise you on whether it’s better to do the test right away or ease back in gradually.
