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During prolonged physical exertion, the ability to obtain energy through aerobic processes and keep anaerobic metabolism to a minimum is extremely important. During physical exertion, our muscles produce lactate. As long as the body can reduce its level, energy production is described as aerobic. If an individual’s muscle workload threshold is exceeded, the lactate concentration in the muscles will increase so quickly that the body will no longer be able to reduce it fast enough. We then enter the anaerobic zone.
To achieve optimal results in endurance training, we should train at the boundary between these two zones: aerobic and anaerobic. Exercise capacity tests are performed to determine this individual zone.
The most advanced method is ERGOSPIROMETRY, which involves analysing the gases exhaled by an athlete during exercise.
Ergospirometry (spiroergometry, exercise capacity test) is a cardiopulmonary exercise test used worldwide for athletes, people who take part in sport recreationally, and patients attending cardiology, rehabilitation and respiratory clinics. This exercise capacity test, which assesses respiratory gases during physical exertion, is objectively the best method for investigating breathlessness on exertion. Ergospirometry provides reproducible information about the causes of exercise intolerance, enables differentiation between cardiac and respiratory causes of breathlessness, allows assessment of ventilatory capacity and provides prognostic information. It can also be used to assess treatment effectiveness.
We offer ergospirometry (exercise capacity tests) on a private, self-funded basis using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment from CORTEX.
Until now, this method has been used in medicine or competitive sport. It is now becoming increasingly popular among amateur athletes and people who maintain their fitness for health reasons.
The ergospirometry device uses precise O2 and CO2 analysers to analyse each breath, enabling:
- accurate functional assessment of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems,
- reliable and reproducible measurement results across a wide range of ventilation levels,
- direct ECG monitoring.
The main parameters determined during this test are
- maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max),
- peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak),
- ventilatory response to exercise (VE/VCO2slope),
- respiratory exchange ratio during exercise (RER=VCO2/VO2). This parameter is useful for assessing the extent to which anaerobic metabolism is used during exercise,
- determination of maximal oxygen uptake,
- determination of the exercise intensity (heart rate or power output) that is optimal for burning body fat.
The ergospirometry device automatically controls cycle ergometers and allows analysis of the metabolic processes taking place in the body during exercise, making it possible to determine both basal energy expenditure and energy expenditure during physical exercise.
VO2 max expresses oxygen consumption per minute per kilogram of body weight. It is one of the most widely used indicators of physical fitness, particularly aerobic capacity. Exercise (training) intensity is often expressed as a percentage of VO2max. Maximal oxygen uptake is a parameter that can be modified to some extent through appropriate, long-term training.
Another method used to determine individual exercise zones is to measure the concentration of lactic acid (lactate) during exercise (our clinic also offers this). During the test, the athlete’s heart rate is monitored and the training workload is gradually increased. Each time the workload changes, a small blood sample is taken and analysed immediately. Individual training zones are determined on the basis of the patient’s blood lactate concentration and heart rate. The test is performed under laboratory conditions on a cycle ergometer, which allows precise adjustment of the workload. When the test is performed on a cycle ergometer, power output is also measured. The results are specific to each sport, depending on the muscle groups being used, so it is recommended that tests are selected to match the intended training goals.