This test involves running, cycling or rowing on an ergometer where the speed or power is continuously increased to the point where the athlete reaches exhaustion.

We offer this service at a fixed price of £120. However if a repeat booking is made this will be discounted. Please contact James Bray ([email protected]) for details prior to booking.

Detailed Description

Given strenuous / maximal exercise involved , the protocols have both ethical and health/safety approval and will be risk assessed on a individual participant basis.The assessor retains the right to excluded participants from testing on the basis of increased risk. Informed consent will be required by all participants.

This test measures the ability of the body to take in and utilise oxygen and can be likened to the size of an athlete's engine. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) has been shown to be related to performance in endurance events. You will be required to run, cycle or row on an ergometer where the speed or resistance is continuously increased to the point of volitional exhaustion. You will wear a face mask which will  collect your expired air though out the test. Collection of expired air allows us to measure the percentage of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in that air. As the concentration of O2 and CO2 in the air we breathe is constant (20.93% O2 and 0.03% CO2), the difference between that measured in the expired air and that which is breathed in is the concentraion that has been used. If we also measure the volume of air that is expired (VE) we can calculate the total volume of O2 consumed, which is the VO2. The value at exhaustion is considered the VO2max.