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Hi #NAME#,

Your VO2 Max Score is #SCORE#

This means your fitness level is #FITNESS LEVEL#
Understanding VO2 Max Testing
VO2 Max Values as a Vital Sign

Why is VO2 Max Important?

Cardiovascular Health

VO2 Max is the most accurate measure of your Cardiovascular Health. A VO2 Max measurement directly reflects your body's ability to utilize oxygen during intense exercise, essentially indicating how efficiently your heart and lungs work together to deliver oxygen to your muscles. 

Longevity

A higher VO2 Max is the strongest predictor of increased longevity and improved health span. Health span indicates the number of years you live in good health, free from major disease and disabilities.  Research consistently shows that individuals with a higher VO2 Max have lower risks of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and even cognitive decline.

Performance

As you increase VO2 Max, you increase your endurance and performance. Imagine your body as a car engine. The bigger and more efficient the engine, the better it runs. In our bodies, VO2 max measures how well we use oxygen during exercise. More specifically, it’s the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. Essentially, it represents your aerobic engine size—the higher your VO2max, the more oxygen you can use to generate energy, which translates to better endurance and performance.

How is my

Fitness Level Determined?

VO2

VO2 is the rate at which the body uses oxygen. It's a measure of how much oxygen is taken in and used by the body each minute.  The more oxygen a person can use during exercise, the more energy they can produce.

Gender at Birth

Women have physiological differences from men that impact a VO2 Max score, and therefore results for comparison are divided by gender.  Men generally have more muscle mass and higher hemoglobin, which both contribute to oxygen consumption capacity.

Age

VO2 Max capabilities decline with age due to a number of factors.  The stroke volume of the heart decreases due to reduced elasticity of blood vessels and cardiac muscle, and blood volume decreases.  These and other factors reduce your ability to efficiently consume oxygen.

Weight

VO2 Max is measured relative to body weight.  That is because a heavier person will need to use more oxygen to perform the same activity compared to a lighter person with the same fitness level. 

How does my VO2 Max compare?

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Olympic Swimmer

Michael Phelps | 76.0

Phelps' lung capacity is rumored to be around 12 liters, which is much higher than the average of about 6 liters for males. This larger lung capacity allows him to deliver more oxygen to his muscles, which helps him perform for longer before tiring

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Marathon Runner

Joan Benoit | 78.6

Joan is a gold medalist marathon runner who held the fastest time in the Chicago Marathon for 32 years, and in the Boston Marathon for 28 years.  Much of her elite performance is credited the physiological advantage of her high VO2 Max.

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Cyclist

Oskar Svendsen | 97.5

The highest VO2 max recorded in professional sports (and from a list of documented VO2max tests) held by cyclist Oskar Svendsen from Norway, who achieved a remarkable score of 97.5. in September 2012 during a test conducted in Lillehammer.

Duncan_Keith_-_Chicago_Blackhawks

NHL Hockey Player

Duncan Keith | 76

Duncan Keith led the Chicago Blackhawks to 3 Stanley cup titles and named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.  He was considered a “workhorse” in the NHL and his league topping VO₂ Max score of 76 may explain his ability to have played effectively for such prolonged minutes.