VO2 Max Testing

A VO₂ max test measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. It’s the gold-standard indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness and a powerful tool for personalizing training, tracking progress, and understanding health risk.

  • Participants receive:

    • Objective fitness score: Get your VO₂ max (mL/kg/min) and percentile for your age/sex.

    • Personalized training zones: We identify ventilatory thresholds (VT1/VT2) to set precise heart‑rate, pace, or power zones—no more guesswork.

    • Performance planning: Targeted workouts for endurance, tempo, and intervals; taper and race‑pace guidance.

    • Health insights: Higher VO₂ max is linked with lower cardiovascular and all‑cause mortality risk. Use it as a baseline for wellness or return‑to‑fitness programs.

    • Efficient progress checks: Retest every 8–12 weeks to quantify gains from your training block or rehab program.

    • Actionable report: Clear explanations, charts, and zone prescriptions you can use immediately.

  • VO2 max testing may be beneficial for:

    • Endurance athletes (run, bike, ski, team sports)

    • Active individuals who want data‑driven training

    • Wellness clients interested in a fitness baseline

    • Patients or clients in medically supervised fitness programs (with clinician clearance)

  • We use the COSMED K5, a medical‑grade, wearable metabolic system designed for both laboratory and real‑world (field) testing. It captures breath‑by‑breath gas exchange and supports a micro dynamic mixing‑chamber mode, letting us choose the ideal method for your sport and protocol.

    Why this matters for you:

    • Train where you compete: Because the K5 is wearable, we can test on a treadmill or bike or take it outdoors on the track, trail, or road for sport‑specific assessments.

    • High‑resolution data: The K5’s IntelliMET™ dual gas‑sampling allows either breath‑by‑breath or mixing‑chamber measurements, improving accuracy across different intensities and movement patterns.

    • Proven accuracy: Peer‑reviewed studies report K5 measurements are comparable to stationary lab carts for energy expenditure/VO₂, with good reliability in field conditions.

    • Robust sensors & analytics: Fast‑response O₂ (galvanic fuel cell) and CO₂ (NDIR) sensors, a 4th‑generation opto‑electronic flowmeter, and COSMED OMNIA software power clear, actionable reporting.

    • Comfortable and mobile: The unit is worn via a lightweight harness (approx. 900 g), so you can move naturally while we capture data.

    • Training: Avoid hard workouts for 24 hours before testing.

    • Food & drink: Light meal 2–3 hours before. Avoid caffeine for 3–4 hours and alcohol for 24 hours pre‑test. Hydrate normally.

    • Medications: Continue as prescribed unless your clinician advises otherwise. Bring rescue inhaler if you have asthma.

    • What to wear/bring: Athletic clothing, running shoes or cycling shoes, water, and a small towel. If you track with a HR strap or watch, bring it.

    • Health status: Please reschedule if you’re sick or have a new injury. If you have a history of heart or lung disease, recent surgery, fainting, or chest pain with exercise, get medical clearance before booking.

  • Total time: 45–60 minutes

    Testing is conducted by trained staff using medical‑grade equipment and infection‑control protocols. Your comfort and safety guide the pace and endpoint of the test.

    1. Check‑in & screening (10–15 min): Brief health questionnaire, vitals, and test overview.

    2. Set‑up (5 min): You’ll wear a comfortable mask connected to our COSMED K5 analyzer. The K5 sits in a small backpack‑style harness and records your breath‑by‑breath oxygen and carbon dioxide while we monitor heart rate; BP/ECG may be used when indicated. Depending on your goals, we’ll test indoors (treadmill/bike) or, when appropriate, outdoors for sport‑specific data.

    3. Graded exercise test (8–15 min): On a treadmill or cycle ergometer, intensity increases in small stages every 1–3 minutes until you reach a maximal effort or a safe predetermined endpoint. You can stop at any time.

    4. Cool‑down & debrief (5–10 min): We review initial results, recovery, and next steps.

    • Results are reviewed with you immediately after the test, with a full written report typically available the same day (or within 1–2 business days for complex cases).

    • Expect to feel like you completed a strong workout; mild fatigue is normal.

    • Resume normal training the next day unless advised otherwise.

    • Plan your next assessment in 8–12 weeks to measure adaptation.

  • VO2 max testing is offered by appointment. Check the schedule below for appointment times.

  • VO2 max testing is available at our Mammoth location (121 College Parkway) in the gym area accessed through the main lobby.

  • VO2 max testing (60-minutes): $200

  • Participants under 18 years of age must have parental/supervising adult consent for participation.

    Note: Intake documents and notes kept by the exercise physiologist are not kept with Mammoth Hospital and are not considered part of the community member's medical records.

  • Please notify us of plan changes early. Cancellations with less than 24-hour notification may be subject to charge.

    Please reschedule your testing appointment if you are sick or sustain a new injury.

  • Use the orange "sign up" links on the schedule below and follow the prompts to register or login to your account.

    You should receive a confirmation email with appointment details upon successful sign up. (Please be sure to opt into scheduling and reminder emails as this is how we will notify you of appointment cancellations and schedule changes as well).

    Please contact us by phone (760-924-4301) or email (elevate@mammothhospital.com) if you need assistance.