Understand your fitness. Understand your metabolism. Train with real data.
PhysAnalytica uses the KORR CardioCoach MAX to objectively measure aerobic fitness and resting metabolism, providing personalised information that can help inform training, nutrition, and progress monitoring.
For everyday exercisers, people working on their health and fitness, and competitive athletes.
VO₂ MaxResting Metabolic RatePersonalised Exercise Data
What would you like to understand?
VO₂ max measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during progressively harder exercise and is widely used as an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness and aerobic capacity.
Assessment insights include:
- VO₂ max or achieved peak oxygen uptake
- Exercise heart-rate response
- Personalised training zones
- Exercise intensity
- Calorie expenditure during different exercise intensities
- Exercise respiratory exchange data
- Fat versus carbohydrate utilisation during exercise
- Exercise thresholds identified by the CardioCoach system
Resting Metabolic Rate, or RMR, measures the energy your body uses while resting to maintain essential functions such as breathing, circulation and normal organ activity.
Where measured RMR can be useful:
- Understanding baseline energy requirements
- Planning nutrition more objectively
- Managing body composition goals
- Comparing measured metabolism with prediction equations
- Monitoring changes over time
RMR is a measure of resting energy expenditure. It does not, by itself, prescribe an individual's diet or guarantee weight loss.
Advanced metabolic measurement with KORR CardioCoach MAX
PhysAnalytica uses the CardioCoach MAX, which measures respiratory gases during exercise and provides objective information about oxygen utilisation, carbon dioxide production and exercise respiratory exchange.
Measures oxygen utilisation as exercise intensity increases.
Adds carbon dioxide measurement during exercise, allowing calculation of respiratory exchange information.
Provides information about the relative contribution of fat and carbohydrate at different exercise intensities.
Uses the measured exercise response to provide individualised intensity information rather than relying only on generic age-based formulas.
Testing powered by KORR CardioCoach MAX
Choose your assessment
Includes:
- Pre-test preparation check
- Resting metabolic measurement
- Measured resting energy expenditure
- Results explanation
- Personalised results/report where supported by the CardioCoach system
Includes:
- Pre-test health/readiness questionnaire
- Preparation and equipment setup
- Progressive exercise test
- VO₂ data & heart-rate response
- Personalised exercise zones
- Exercise calorie expenditure
- Exercise RER/substrate utilisation where available from the MAX
- Results explanation & CardioCoach results/report
RMR + VO₂ Max — save £30 compared with booking separately
Includes:
- Includes both Resting Metabolic Rate Assessment and VO₂ Max & Aerobic Performance Assessment
- Full baseline resting energy expenditure breakdown
- Submaximal and peak aerobic threshold data
- Detailed physiological zone guidance & report
Useful from everyday health and fitness to competitive sport
What happens during a VO₂ assessment?
Review relevant health, exercise and readiness information.
A heart-rate monitor and metabolic face mask are fitted.
Exercise begins at an easier intensity and becomes progressively more demanding according to the selected protocol. Use a treadmill or cycle depending on the testing setup and individual requirements.
The CardioCoach measures respiratory gases throughout the assessment.
Results are explained in practical language, including how they may inform training.
KORR describes the active VO₂ testing phase as commonly taking approximately 10–15 minutes, although the full PhysAnalytica appointment is longer because preparation, progressive testing, recovery and results interpretation are also required.
What happens during an RMR assessment?
RMR is measured while you are resting comfortably rather than exercising.
Confirm that appropriate pre-test preparation has been followed.
Allow the individual to settle into a comfortable resting state.
Breathing is measured through the metabolic system while the person remains at rest.
Explain measured resting energy expenditure and how it relates to overall energy requirements.
Total daily energy needs are influenced by activity, exercise, food intake and other individual factors, and are not identical to RMR.
Test preparation guidance
Follow these general guidelines ahead of your metabolic and performance assessments to ensure valid, reproducible clinical data.
- Avoid strenuous exercise or endurance training during the 24 hours before testing.
- Avoid eating for at least 3 hours before testing.
- Avoid caffeine for at least 3 hours before testing.
- Avoid alcohol for at least 3 hours before testing.
- Avoid tobacco or nicotine for at least 3 hours before testing.
- Arrive appropriately hydrated.
- Wear comfortable exercise clothing and appropriate footwear.
- Continue prescribed medication unless your own healthcare professional has told you otherwise.
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) reflects baseline energy expenditure under steady-state conditions. Results can be significantly affected by recent food intake, strenuous exercise, caffeine, stimulants, and physical activity prior to testing.
Because individuals metabolize nutrients and clear stimulants at varying rates, individualized guidance is issued in advance rather than applying an inflexible routine.
Is VO₂ Max testing suitable for everyone?
VO₂ testing involves progressively increasing exercise intensity and may not be appropriate for every person on every occasion.
PhysAnalytica uses a structured pre-test health and readiness screening process prior to undertaking any physiological testing. This protocol allows us to evaluate individual exercise history and current physical readiness before administering maximal exertion protocols.
Testing may be modified, postponed or declined if information provided before or during the assessment indicates that maximal exercise is not appropriate. In some circumstances, medical clearance may be recommended before testing.
Please notify our team prior to testing if you have or experience any of the following:
- Relevant cardiovascular conditions
- Respiratory conditions
- Significant current illness
- Recent surgery
- Chest pain, unexplained fainting or similar concerning symptoms
- Medications or conditions that may affect exercise response
Note: This is an essential safety disclosure summary and is not presented as an exhaustive medical contraindication list. If you are uncertain about your suitability for maximal exercise, consult your physician.
Measured data rather than an algorithmic estimate
Many watches and fitness platforms estimate VO₂ max using heart rate, pace, power, or other field data. A metabolic assessment instead measures the respiratory response directly during a controlled exercise protocol.
Wearables can be useful for ongoing monitoring. Metabolic testing provides a different level of directly measured physiological information.
View clinical servicesTurn testing into better training decisions
Objective physiological assessment provides precise physiological data to inform structured programmes. Testing does not guarantee performance outcomes, but it removes guesswork from your training variables, workloads, and recovery phases.
Disciplines & Clinical Scenarios
Running & Athletics
Endurance training, pacing benchmarks, and running economy analysis.
Cycling & Triathlon
Cadence-specific power zones, sustained aerobic output, and multi-sport balance.
Field & Court Sports
Intermittent high-intensity recovery capacity and baseline work capacity.
Return to Conditioning
Safe, graduated load reintroduction following injury, illness, or hiatus.
Monitoring Progress
Periodic reassessment to track physiological adaptation over training blocks.
What physiological testing informs
Calibrated heart rate and effort ranges derived from respiratory exchange rather than population formulas.
Specific training thresholds to build an efficient base engine and mitochondrial capacity.
Pinpointed lactate and ventilatory transitions to structure targeted tempo and interval work.
Clear demarcation of genuine recovery paces to prevent inadvertent over-reaching.
Understanding substrate utilisation (carbohydrate vs. fat oxidation) across varying exercise intensities.
You do not need to be an elite athlete
VO₂ testing can be useful for anyone who wants to understand their aerobic fitness more objectively, whether they are beginning structured exercise, returning to fitness, or training competitively.
Our clinic applies the same physiological precision whether you are managing cardiovascular health, rebuilding conditioning after illness, or balancing busy weekly training with work commitments. Testing parameters are calibrated directly to individual starting baselines.
A better starting point for understanding energy requirements
Generic calorie equations estimate metabolism from population averages. An RMR assessment measures your individual resting energy expenditure.
That measurement can form one part of wider nutrition or body-composition planning alongside activity level, goals, dietary intake and professional nutritional advice where required.
Put the numbers into movement context
This service complements existing PhysAnalytica expertise, bridging precise physiological testing with established clinical assessment, functional gait evaluation, and bespoke movement plans.
Understand both physiological capacity and aspects of movement or loading where relevant.
Useful for selected individuals progressing from rehabilitation towards structured physical conditioning, where clinically appropriate.
Potentially useful for runners wanting both aerobic and movement information.
Where an appropriately qualified nutrition professional is involved, RMR provides measured resting energy information that may support individual planning.
Clinical note: We do not automatically bundle clinical services without consent or need. Each pathway is tailored strictly to clinical appropriateness.
Looking for a more complete performance assessment?
PhysAnalytica can combine metabolic testing with specialist biomechanics and movement assessment where appropriate. Contact us to discuss your goals.
Where is testing available?
VO₂ Max and RMR testing will be available at selected PhysAnalytica locations. Availability depends on equipment, practitioner and appointment requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Essential details regarding VO₂ max, metabolic testing, and appointment expectations.
VO2 Max and healthy ageing
Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important marker of physical capacity and is strongly associated with long-term health outcomes in population research.
VO2 Max testing does not predict an individual's lifespan, but it provides an objective measure that can be monitored and improved through appropriate exercise.
Stop guessing. Measure how your body responds.
Choose VO₂ Max, Resting Metabolic Rate, or combine both for PhysAnalytica's most complete metabolic assessment.