How to Improve Vo2 Max: 6 Tips, Workouts, and More

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Your Vo2 max is a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise. The best way to increase your Vo2 max is to exercise near your maximum heart rate.

Vo2 max is a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during exercise. It’s also called peak oxygen uptake
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, maximal oxygen uptake, or maximal aerobic capacity. Tests that measure Vo2 max are considered the gold standard for measuring cardiovascular fitness.

In the following video, you can see an example of a Vo2 max test performed on a treadmill.

Elite athletes in aerobic sports usually have high Vo2 maxes. Increasing your VO2 improves your potential to perform at a high level in your sport. However, it isn’t the only factor that determines success. Other factors, such as lactate threshold and muscular endurance also play an important role in maximizing performance.

Even if you’re not an athlete, improving your Vo2 max can potentially improve your overall health. Low levels of cardiovascular fitness correlate with an increased risk of heart disease. Increasing your overall levels of cardiovascular fitness is associated with benefits such as:

In this article, we’re going to look at how you can improve your Vo2 max. We’ll also provide you with sample workouts to help get you started.