What if you could gauge how successful an athlete will be before you see them grab a ball or hit the field? What if you had an indicator that showed exactly what your athlete needed to improve their performance before the season even started? 

Believe it or not, that indicator exists! VO2 Max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is regarded by the majority of authors to be the best indicator of an athlete’s physical capacity, and physical capacity is an essential element of success in sports achievements. In short – if you know your player’s VO2 Max, you know how successful your athlete is going to be. 

This idea was explored in a study from the Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, where they analyzed the VO2 Max scores of soccer players, volleyball players and non-athletes. The study reveals that a “high level of aerobic capacity is indispensable for achieving success in many sports; therefore, the determination of VO2 Max is of special importance as it plays the key role in professional sports – it is the reflection of any athlete’s physical capability.”

This study analyzed a variety of teams within each sport, including professional and amateur teams. For every team in the study, VO2 Max seemed to reflect a player’s success and rankings within a match. It was also significant when comparing teams in the same sport, where professionals had statistically higher VO2 Max values compared to amateur players. 

The study also showed that football players had higher VO2 Max scores than volleyball players, corresponding with the higher degree of endurance required for an “efficient energetic system which would support all 90 min maintaining full strength.” Football players of the First Mexican soccer league emphasized the need to improve VO2 Max scores “in order to achieve better results on the international level.” 

It concludes that VO2 Max testing to assess the aerobic capacity of players “provides the relevant data on the health of players, planning and follow-up of the training effects, [and is also] useful for the early selection of athletes.” It also states the importance of increasing VO2 Max values as an indicator of physical capabilities, labeling it “indispensable for achieving the top sports results.” 

If you want to add VO2 Max testing to your training program, check out CardioCoach metabolic test equipment. It comes in various models to match your price point and level of expertise. To schedule a live-video demo of the equipment, click here.

To read the full study from the Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, click below.