The maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) is one of the most important criteria for measuring aerobic performance describing the individual maximum capacity to transport and use oxygen during physical exercise.
Instructions
| Equipment | Usually the test is done either on a treadmill or a cycle ergo-meter or treadmill. Besides that an oxygen and carbon dioxin analyzer is needed. |
|---|---|
| Basics | The direct measurement of the maximum oxygen consumption requires a test with a duration of about 12-15 minutes. |
| Execution | The test starts with low resistance and workload gradually up to maximum intensity, when the individual is unable to increase training intensity. Meanwhile oxygen and carbon dioxin levels of the air expired are being measured. |
| Analysis | VO2max level marks the point where oxygen uptake reaches a plateau or peak, subject is having its maximum heart rate and/or respiratory exchange ratio is 1.15 or higher. |
| Results | The result is expressed in either ml/kg/min (micromols of oxygen per kilogram of bodyweight per minute) or l/min (liters per minutes). |
Images
| Running | Cycling |
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Results
Males (in ml/kg/min):
| age | very poor | poor | fair | average | good | very good | excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | <32 | 32-37 | 38-43 | 44-50 | 51-56 | 57-62 | >62 |
| 25-29 | <31 | 31-35 | 36-42 | 43-48 | 49-53 | 54-59 | >59 |
| 30-34 | <29 | 29-34 | 35-40 | 41-45 | 46-51 | 52-56 | >56 |
| 35-39 | <28 | 28-32 | 33-38 | 39-43 | 44-48 | 49-54 | >54 |
| 40-44 | <26 | 26-31 | 32-35 | 36-41 | 42-46 | 47-51 | >51 |
| 45-49 | <25 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-43 | 44-47 | >47 |
| 50-54 | <24 | 24-27 | 28-32 | 33-36 | 37-41 | 42-46 | >46 |
| 55-59 | <22 | 22-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-39 | 40-43 | >43 |
| 60-64 | <21 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 | >40 |
| 65-69 | <20 | 20-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-38 | >38 |
Females (in ml/kg/min):
| age | very poor | poor | fair | average | good | very good | excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | <27 | 27-31 | 32-36 | 37-41 | 42-46 | 47-51 | >51 |
| 25-29 | <26 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-44 | 45-49 | >49 |
| 30-34 | <25 | 25-29 | 30-33 | 34-37 | 38-42 | 43-46 | >46 |
| 35-39 | <24 | 24-27 | 28-31 | 32-35 | 36-40 | 41-44 | >44 |
| 40-44 | <22 | 22-25 | 26-29 | 30-33 | 34-37 | 38-41 | >41 |
| 45-49 | <21 | 21-23 | 24-27 | 28-31 | 32-35 | 36-38 | >38 |
| 50-54 | <19 | 19-22 | 23-25 | 26-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | >36 |
| 55-59 | <18 | 18-20 | 21-23 | 24-27 | 38-30 | 31-33 | >33 |
| 60-64 | <16 | 16-18 | 19-21 | 22-24 | 25-27 | 28-30 | >30 |
| 65-69 | <15 | 15-17 | 18-19 | 10-22 | 23-25 | 26-28 | >28 |
