Longevity
VO2 Max Testing
The single best predictor of how long you will live well
- Time45 min total
- Test10 to 15 min
- ResultSame day
- RepeatEvery 6 months
VO2 max testing measures how much oxygen your body can use at maximum effort, giving an estimate of aerobic fitness and training zones. It suits adults who want to track fitness over time, from beginners to athletes. It measures and estimates, it does not diagnose. Cost is on our Pricing page, and we review your health before booking.
VO2 max is the most oxygen your body can use per minute while working hard. Of everything that can be measured about a person, it tracks most closely with how long they live and how much of that life they spend healthy.
You ride a bike with a mask on while the workload climbs, until you cannot hold the pace. It takes about fifteen unpleasant minutes and gives you a number, your percentile for your age and sex, and a training range that is based on your physiology instead of a formula on a watch.
What it does
Why people choose VO2 Max Testing
Your real aerobic capacity
Measured from the air you breathe while working, not estimated by a watch or a formula.
Training zones that fit you
Heart rate ranges based on your own physiology, so easy days are easy and hard days count.
A baseline to retest
Your number and percentile for your age, so the next test shows whether your training is working.
Step by step
How your VO2 Max Testing appointment runs
You will be told what is happening before each step. If anything stops feeling comfortable, say so and we adjust.
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01
Health check first
We go through your history and medications, because this is a maximal test and some conditions need clearance.
-
02
Mask and bike
You wear a mask that measures the air you breathe in and out, and warm up on the bike.
-
03
The climb
The workload rises every minute until you cannot keep the pace. The hard part lasts a few minutes, supervised throughout.
-
04
Your results
We explain your VO2 max, your percentile and your training zones the same day.
Straight answers
VO2 Max Testing, honestly
Still unsure? Call or WhatsApp the clinic. We would rather answer a question than book the wrong treatment.
Do I need to be fit to do this?
No. The test adapts to you, and it is arguably more useful if you are unfit, because that is where the biggest gains are available. Knowing your starting number is the point.
How hard is it really?
Genuinely hard for the last two or three minutes, because a valid result needs you at your limit. It is over quickly and you are supervised the whole way.
What do I do with the number?
You get training zones you can use immediately, and a baseline. Retesting in six months tells you whether what you have been doing is working, which no amount of feeling fitter can.
Is it safe if I have a heart condition?
It is a maximal test, so we screen you first and there are conditions where we will not proceed without clearance. Tell us your history when you book.
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Not sure VO2 Max Testing is the right thing?
Book the assessment instead. We will look properly, tell you what we actually see, and sometimes talk you out of the treatment you came in for.