Health and Fitness Health and Fitness
Sat, February 22, 2025
Fri, February 21, 2025

What Is VO2 Max? How To Use The Metric To Boost Your Workout Performance And Health


Published on 2025-02-21 18:03:12 - MSN
  Print publication without navigation

  • It's the ultimate test for your lungs
  • a measure of how much oxygen your body can take in and use when you're exercising at max effort, says Stacy Sims, PhD, exercise physiologist and author. It's often considered the gold standard for cardiorespiratory fitness
  • think of it as your personal record for oxygen consumption.

VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness, measuring the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during intense exercise. It's expressed in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). The article from MSN discusses how VO2 max can be used to enhance workout performance and overall health. It explains that a higher VO2 max generally indicates better aerobic fitness, which can lead to improved endurance, quicker recovery times, and a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease. The piece also covers methods to improve VO2 max, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), long-duration endurance training, and strength training. Additionally, it touches on how VO2 max can be tested, either through lab-based tests like treadmill or bike ergometer tests, or through field tests like the Cooper 12-minute run. The article emphasizes the importance of VO2 max not just for athletes but for anyone looking to optimize their health and fitness levels.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/fitness-and-exercise/what-is-vo2-max-how-to-use-the-metric-to-boost-your-workout-performance-and-health/ar-AA1zxHLP ]
Contributing Sources