Max or Submax- That is the Question

When performing a VO2 max test it can be difficult to determine whether or not true, maximal oxygen consumption was attained. Historically VO2 max tests require the subject to run on a treadmill as long as they can and the amount of oxygen consumed in the last minute of the test is considered the VO2 max. This method often yields sub maximal scores. Physiologically there are four ways to determine whether maximal oxygen consumption has been reached.

1.       No increase in oxygen consumption with an increase in workload (plateau)

2.       Obtaining max HR

3.       RER > 1.1

4.       Blood lactate concentration above 8 mM

At least one of these must occur for a VO2 max test to be considered valid. One must be careful in measuring these criteria, particularly maximal heart rate. Simple formulas like (220-age yrs) are inaccurate and should be taken with a grain of salt.