Does VO2 Testing Help?

[Lawman]

I'm in pretty good shape. I either lift or do cardio just about every day. Does this assessment make a meaningful difference in training and/or results? Seems like it is everywhere right now, including ads for it plastered over the walls at my gym.

 

[RedLantern]

Unless you really care to know what your max is or to see what progress you have made in improving it, I don't see why one would really care.

 

[erdawe]

Originally Posted by Lawman

I'm in pretty good shape. I either lift or do cardio just about every day. Does this assessment make a meaningful difference in training and/or results? Seems like it is everywhere right now, including ads for it plastered over the walls at my gym.
What type of VO2 testing do want to have done? Submaximal or maximal? I won't make a decision for you, but read this article on the topic. While it's not verbatim journal article, the information mirrors from the research out there. Takes my thought's and puts them into layman's terms. Also, try researching the topic from sources such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guides, peer-reviewed journals ect, pretty interesting. I will say that my VO2max performance astounds me given my RER at the time of the test... it's a ***** near the end (but obviously doable). Here's the article, VO2max may not be everything you think it is: http://www.time-to-run.com/theabc/vo2.htm

 

[rjmaiorano]

V02 max testing is kind of just fun to know if you've put in a lot of work and want to know how you stack up.

Best artificial test I have found is this :

http://www.concept2.com/us/interacti...ors/vo2max.asp

Except you have to know your 2k test on an erg. But I've had a real test done and compared to the result on this site and they're pretty much the same.