The Performance Lab

Your fitness level can be assessed through various fitness testing methods such as cardiovascular endurance tests, strength and resistance testing, and/or flexibility tests. 

The most common and well-known cardio endurance test is the Vo2 Max test when used with the gold standard metabolic cart which yields invaluable insights into a person’s overall fitness & health 

One of the most critical physical fitness tests an athlete can undergo is the Vo2 Max testing for aerobic capacity, resting metabolic testing for energy utilisation and metabolism, and blood lactate threshold testing for endurance and exertion. 

While there are many other methods of testing one’s physical fitness, these tests are generally considered the gold standard and the most in-depth methods of measuring key fitness metrics for athletes. 

The Vo2 Max test is a specialised assessment of the body, it is crucial that the test is undertaken in controlled conditions by experienced and qualified professional performance coaches utilising the correct equipment. 

Vo2 Max testing measures oxygen intake, delivery and utilisation during cardiorespiratory endurance and aerobic endurance testing on equipment such as treadmills or stationary bikes fitted with a mask to analyse your key metrics. 

If you’re an athlete attempting to understand how your body utilises energy during exercise, particularly at varying levels of exertion, it’s advisable that you undergo some form of metabolic testing. 

Allowing you to have more effective and efficient training completed, by directly giving you a road map you can monitor through heart rate, which was achieved during your Vo2 Max test. 

Resting metabolic testing yields invaluable insights into the body’s metabolic systems which can, in turn, be used to develop meal plans that maximise caloric intake to manage weight and to maintain consistent results in athletic performance assessments. 

Lactate threshold testing measures the rate of lactate accumulation within the bloodstream during exercise. Blood lactate threshold testing can involve various intensities of muscle endurance tests, endurance tests, and heart rate testing over multiple stages with measurements of blood lactate taken at each interval. 

Endurance fitness tests that include blood lactate measurements can greatly enhance athletic and fitness performance by highlighting key predictors of aerobic endurance.