VO2max Ramp Test

The VO2max ramp test is conducted either on a treadmill or cycle ergometer and is a test to exhaustion. During the test you will start cycling or running at a low intensity and as the test progresses the resistance on the cycle ergometer or speed/elevation on the treadmill increase at short regular intervals until you are unable to sustain your work rate.

The Ramp test will give you data on the following:

Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2max)
Maximum Heart Rate
Maximum Aerobic Power (Cycling)

VO2 max; Oxygen consumption is defined as the amount of oxygen that a person can consume per unit of time (usually one minute). This concept is expressed as VO2, where V=volume, and O2 = oxygen. A person’s maximum oxygen uptake value, often abbreviated to VO2max, represents the maximum amount of oxygen which can be extracted from the air that we breathe in and used by working muscles. It can be measured in litres per minute (l/m) which is a general value which pays no attention to body size, or in millimetres of oxygen per kilogram of bodyweight per minute (ml/kg/min) which gives the individuals oxygen utilisation capacity in relative terms. Individuals with a high VO2max values are able to sustain high energy use rates aerobically.

Direct measurement using sophisticated equipment gives the most accurate results.
For individuals who feel, or do not want to do a ramp style test VO2 max can be estimated through test such as an Astrand cycle test, or the Harvard Step test.