Fitness testing

We take the safety of our customers very seriously, and since certain sicknesses, symptoms and risk factors affect the risk level of fitness testing, we always perform a medical background check (questionnaire) to our customers and have a pretest interview on test day as well.

Cardiovascular*, respiratory** and metabolic*** sicknesses and symptoms**** are of special relevance. Risk factors include pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, heart disease or sudden family death, advanced age and sedentary lifestyle. If high risk scenarios emerge, we reserve the right to deny testing, make a switch to a submaximal test protocol or stop the test at any time given. Therefore, and if you happen to have any underlying health conditions, we invite you to discuss the matter with us in advance to be able to avoid any unpleasant surprises on test day. 

* cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular and heart disease

** asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease

*** diabetes 1 and 2, kidney and thyroid disease

**** dizziness, chest pain, fainting, feeling of heart arrhythmia, shortness of breath at rest or during light exertion

We offer four main test products:

• VO₂max test (running, cycling or Nordic Walking) 189 €
• Lactate test (running, cycling or Nordic Walking) 125 €
  • Cycle ergometer: > 3 people group discount 105 €
• Field test (minimum 2 people)
  • Running 105 €
    • > 3 people group discount 90 €
  • Swimming 90 €
• Cycle ergometer test without lactate (minimum 2 people) 75 €

Both the VO₂max and lactate tests happen on a laboratory environment, either on a running treadmill (by running or Nordic Walking) or on a cycle ergometer. The VO₂max test can also be done on customer’s bike attached to our trainer, as long as both devices are compatible. Both tests are incremental 3-minute step tests to exhaustion, and they only differ on the variables that are being monitored. Heartrate response, blood lactate concentration, rate of perceived exertion and load (pace/ power / pace + incline) are all measured in both the VO₂max and lactate tests, but respiratory gases are only measured on the former. Both the VO₂max and lactate tests include an immediate post-test result discussion, as well as a written report with great actionable data to finetune training (training zones, estimated VO₂max, HRmax, training tips), but the VO₂max test offers more in-depth metabolic data (measured VO₂max, rates of substrate utilization, performance economy). If the lactate test is done in a cycle-ergometer we can measure up to 4 customers simultaneously, in all other cases these tests happen on a one-to-one basis.

The field test, in contrast, happens either on our indoor 333 m track by running, or on our indoor 25 m swimming pool, and is meant for groups only. In field tests we monitor the same variables as in the lactate test (HR, lactate, RPE, load), but the protocols differ. On the running field test, we simultaneously test 2 to 6 customers on an incremental 5-8 x 1000 m protocol (last 1000 m is maximal) with 1 minute recovery breaks. On the swimming test, we simultaneously test 2 customers on an incremental 7-10 x 100/200 m protocol (last 100/200 m is maximal) with 30 seconds recovery interval. You will receive a written report like on the lactate test (training zones, estimated VO₂max for running only, HRmax, training tips), but you will not get the immediate post-test result discussion.

Lastly the cycle ergometer test without lactate is meant for groups only and can be done either maximally or sub-maximally. We test 2 to 6 customers simultaneously and we use an incremental 2-minute step protocol without breaks. We measure the heart rate response, rate of perceived exertion and load (power), based on which we give an estimate of VO₂max and training zones. This test also includes a written test report.

The field tests, the cycle ergometer lactate test and the cycle ergometer test without lactate can be done back-to-back to accommodate larger groups/teams on a matter of hours, which makes them a more time- and cost-effective alternative to traditional VO₂max testing.