VO2 Max and RMR Testing
What is VO2 Testing?
VO2 Max is recognized amongst health care professionals as a potent and key indicator of human longevity.
VO2 Max Testing
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A measure of the maximum rate at which you can utilize oxygen, or your peak cardiorespiratory fitness.
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The higher your VO2 max, the more oxygen you can consume to make energy. This means you can exercise faster, longer, and you'll have better recovery and exercise resilience.
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Research has shown that VO2 max declines by about 10% per decade, and up to 15% per decade after 50 years of age. What does this mean? Simply having an average VO2 max today isn't ideal if your goal is to sustain activity later into life. Having a higher than average VO2 max today means you will be able to complete intermittent or interval activity with ease, recover faster, and be able to enjoy activity long into your golden years.
The evidence is strong.
What research has discovered is that poor cardiorespiratory fitness carries a greater relative risk of death than does smoking. A JAMA study in 2018 on 120,000 adults found that a higher VO2 Max (measured via a treadmill test) was associated with lower mortality across the board. The results of this study were confirmed by a larger and more recent study published in 2022. In addition, research shows that increasing VO2 Max has also been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancers, and stroke. And these benefits are not limited to athletes or active people alone.
What's important to know is that one can improve their VO2 Max. By simply going from the 25th to 50th percentile for age and sex, a person can cut the risk of death nearly in half! For athletes, improving ventilatory thresholds, minute ventilation, and VO2 max can help with performance in practice, on the field, sustaining energy throughout a game/event, and supporting a faster recovery.
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Knowing your VO2 Max gives you a place to start from which you can improve. It will help you to confidently learn and strategically plan for the type and intensity of exercise required to target increasing your VO2 Max. The exercise usually recommended to increase VO2 Max includes low intensity with some moderate to high intensity sprinkled in!
VO2 RMR Testing.
In addition, a VO2 Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test will provide the most accurate number for resting metabolic rate, or the amount of calories burned at rest. This number is critical to determine how many calories someone needs per day. In practice, most dietitians are using a calculation to determine RMR, which is the best we can ask for in absence of accurate testing. Now, I offer the most accurate testing outside of a hospital setting for RMR, from which a more targeted and personalized nutrition plan can be created.
What to know.
VO2 Max testing may not be for everyone. It requires a 10/10 maximum effort and will start with a mild warm-up progressing through 8-12 stages until you achieve true max, a VO2 plateau, your age-predicted max heart rate, or you are unable to maintain speed/watts, etc. on the equipment used. You will be wearing a mask during the test as well, which can be uncomfortable for some.
There are some contraindications. These may include an existing cardio or respiratory diagnosis, if you have been told by a physician to be cautious in engaging in physical activity, or have been recommended to do physician supervised physical activity only. It is highly recommended that you consult with a doctor before testing. If a VO2 Max test cannot be completed, a submaximal test might be an option.
My intake paperwork for VO2 testing is comprehensive, asks current and past medical history, medications and supplements used, and qualifier questions. I'm happy to help you determine if VO2 Max testing, or a submaximal test, is right for you. And, I recommend consulting with your physician before doing a VO2 Max test.
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It is important to know that some medications may affect metabolic and vascular health. While taking these may not be a contraindication for VO2 Max testing (please confirm this with your doctor), they may affect the results of the VO2 Max or RMR tests. These medications may include but not be limited to antipsychotics (atypical), glucocorticoids, antidepressants, diabetes medications, lipid lowering agents, GLP-1s, diuretics, beta-blockers, NSAIDs, vasoconstrictors, immunosuppressants, calcium-channel blockers, and aspirin.
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For a VO2 Max test, it is ideal that you will be well rested, nourished, and hydrated. Heavy meals should be avoided within 2 hours of a test. Alcohol, coffee, and other stimulants should also be avoided well before a test. Proper attire and shoes should be worn.
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RMR testing, on the other hand, is done in a relaxed position. You will be in a reclined zero gravity chair, with the mask on, for approximately 10 minutes. The test includes a 5-minute "settle-in" followed by the 5-minute test. Ideally the RMR test is done in a fasting state, with no caffeine or other stimulants used for 5 hours prior to the test. In addition, vigorous activity should be avoided for 12 hours prior to a RMR test.
Testing locations offered.
RMR testing will be offered at Dr. King's office within Home Skincare and Wellness, unless other arrangements are made
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VO2 Max testing will be offered at TFL CrossFit in Mount Airy, Maryland, unless other arrangements are made. If allowed, I can bring the equipment to your gym, your home gym (if I know you, or I will bring a colleague with me), or the great outdoors. Ideally a test will be done in a modality you currently use. If that is mountain biking, or running outdoors, we can figure out how to perform a test outside, as weather and other factors allow. The benefit of the equipment I have is that it is portable!
Equipment used.
The equipment used in VO2 Max and RMR testing is the VO2 Master Analyzer. It is ultra-compact, wireless, and compatible with many other devices.
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In addition it has been tested for accuracy against metabolic carts (the gold standard) and is within 1-2%, which is an outstanding metric for producing data that is reliable and trustworthy.
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Lastly, it is a device that is trusted by universities and researchers globally to further the evidence around VO2 Max and RMR for health purposes. I'm proud to have this device in house and offer this testing to my patients and community.
Schedule a test.
Online booking is available! To schedule a test, click on the "Schedule an appointment" button below. This will take you to my electronic health record system, Unified Practice, where you can set up an account, schedule, reschedule, and access my pre-testing paperwork. The system will require a credit card when scheduling. If you do not put one on file, your appointment will not save and I will have no record of it. Please know that Unified Practice, my EHR, is PCI compliant and I can only see the last 4 digits and expiration date of your card. I also will not charge your card until after your test.
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VO2 RMR testing times available, fasting is required for accuracy:
Monday - Wednesday: 7:30AM - 1:00PM
Thursday - Friday: 8:30AM - 12:30PM
*Note: if these times do not work for you please reach out. I'm happy to accommodate or do a weekend if that's the only time you have available.
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VO2 Max testing times available at TFL CrossFit:
Monday - Friday mornings (during the school year): 8:45 - 9:45AM
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 1:15 - 3:30PM
Tuesday, Thursday: 1:15 - 4:00PM
*Note: if these times do not work for you please reach out. I'm happy to accommodate or offer a weekend if that's the only time you have available. Please also reach out if you prefer to schedule the test in another location.
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If you would like to arrange for the VO2 Max test to be done in another location or you have any questions regarding the VO2 Max or RMR tests, please reach out.
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VO2 Max Single Test: $175.00 | RMR Single Test: $100.00 | Please see package discounts below. | Please reach out for discounts for first responders, military, professional and other athletic organizations, and TFL members.
Package discounts.
VO2 RMR Tests Only:
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Bi-annual (2x/year) VO2 RMR Tests: $190.00 (usually $200)
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Quarterly (4x/year) VO2 RMR Tests: $360.00 (usually $400)
VO2 Max Tests only:
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Bi-annual (2x/year) VO2 Max Tests: $332.50 (usually $350)
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Quarterly (4x/year) VO2 Max Tests: $630.00 (usually $700)
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VO2 Max + RMR Tests:
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1 VO2 Max Test + 1 VO2 RMR Test: $261.25 (usually $275)
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Bi-annual VO2 Max Test + Bi-annual RMR Test: $495 (usually $550)
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Quarterly VO2 Max Test + Quarterly RMR Test: $935 (usually $1,100)
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*Note: Retesting VO2 Max and RMR is often recommended to identify (and celebrate) your health and fitness efforts and achievements, determine if you've met your goal, and adjust or fine-tune your personalized fitness and nutrition prescriptions. A VO2 RMR can be tested every 4-8 weeks or during key training, recovery, or nutritional interventions. RMR can also be tested for women during different phases of their cycle to understand how your RMR changes with your hormones. VO2 Max can be tested every 8-12 weeks to determine how changes in training have affected your VO2 Max. The existing package options can be modified upon request to fit your specific needs. In addition, a RMR and Max test can be completed in the same appointment. We start with the RMR since it is a fasting test. You then have some time to eat a snack and warm up for the VO2 Max test as Dr. King gets the device set up for that test. If you are interested in a package discount, please schedule an initial appointment and let me know the package discount in which you are interested. If purchased, the package discount will be applied to your first visit. Any questions, please reach out.
