Look around your facility. As you stare down the rows of treadmills, bikes, and elliptical trainers, it must appear that you’ve “got it covered.” But with all these different ways for your clients to crank up their heart rate, are they getting maximum results for their efforts?
VO2 testing is the key to proper use of any piece of cardio equipment. Much like proper lifting technique increases the effectiveness of your weightlifting equipment, proper VO2-based training zones will increase the effectiveness of your cardio equipment. It is a single device that will apply to every cardio machine you own and every aerobics class you offer.
So what is a VO2 test? A VO2 fitness assessment is done routinely in professional training facilities. Clients exercise on a treadmill or bike while wearing a mask that directs the gas they breathe to a machine to be analyzed. The machine measures the client’s “VO2”. VO2 stands for “Volume of Oxygen” and is the rate at which the client is consuming oxygen. As the test progresses, workload is steadily increased, thus increasing the client’s heart rate and oxygen consumption. The device detects the client’s aerobic threshold, anaerobic threshold, and peak VO2.
How do you use the results? The measurement of aerobic threshold, anaerobic threshold, and peak VO2 show how a person’s cardiovascular system responds to exercise. This information can be used to pinpoint the individual’s target heart rate for various workout zones, such as fat burning, endurance training, or cardio strengthening. These workout
zones are highly individual and much more precise than any charts or estimations.
Some personal trainers use these zones to design their own workout schedules for clients. It might be something like: Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be 45 minutes of “fatburning zone” doing step aerobics; then Tuesday and Thursday will be 30 minutes of “cardio zone” on the treadmill. Some VO2 test devices provide software that will automatically design the workouts after simply entering in some basic criteria. In either case, the client receives an individualized plan that leaves them feeling that they truly got something of value.
The client is then encouraged to exercise with a heart rate strap and watch, or to workout on treadmills or bikes that allow a heart rate monitor to control the workload of the equipment. They can program these things for the correct target heart rate to stay in their correct “zone.”
Ready…Set…Go! At this point, clients are ready for an effective cardio workout! They can hop on any piece of cardio equipment at your facility and have the most comfortable workout of their lives. Why? Because now they are working out in their own, personal “sweet spot” where they can maximize their results while minimizing pain, discomfort, or
fatigue.
De-conditioned athletes will have more comfortable workouts, leading to greater compliance to a fitness program. Testing can show clients their improved VO2 levels as reward for their efforts. They will stay motivated even if the scale or the mirror doesn’t show progress very quickly. Results will follow, as will greater client retention. High Performance athletes are thrilled to have access to the same training tools used by professionals. Their competitive nature drives them to test and retest as they strive to beat their best and give themselves that “edge.”
How can your facility justify the investment?
In addition to the improved services you will be offering, VO2 testing can be a source of revenue. When was the last time you purchased a piece of equipment that actually paid for itself? VO2 testing equipment is not only affordable, but club owners can charge for testing and create a source of revenue. Clubs report that clients are willing to pay
anywhere from $60.00 to $120.00 per test. And clients repeat the testing every four to six weeks to track their progress, so the income is ongoing. VO2 testing can generate as much as $300,000 a year by performing just ten tests a day!
Thousands of potential customers are looking for something truly new in fitness. Now you can afford to offer them a service unlike any of your competitors. VO2 testing will give both you and your clients the competitive edge!
Scott Kofoed, Ph.D is the President of KORR Medical Technologies, Inc. He can be contacted at 801.483.2080, or by email at scott@korr.com.
