LOOKING TO IMPROVE YOUR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE? WE CAN HELP.

In our exercise physiology lab, we will conduct a VO₂ max test on our state of the art device. Your VO₂ max is a measurement of your body’s ability to consume and utilize oxygen. The better your VO₂ max, the more efficient you are in utilizing oxygen which leads to better performance.

VO₂ max is calculated by measuring the volume of oxygen that you consume while running on a progressively difficult treadmill test or cycling on a bicycle (we can even conduct the test using your own bicycle!). Your VO₂ max occurs when your oxygen consumption plateaus and when your maximal heart rate is reached.

In order to calculate your VO₂ max, the oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations of both your inhaled and exhaled air is measured. This is done by breathing into a mask. (Most VO₂ max readings on other equipment are just a rough estimation, not an exact number.)

When thinking about how VO₂ max affects your performance, you must also consider how fast you were running when you hit your VO₂ max, which we will also be measuring. The combination of your speed and VO₂ max will be used to develop proper exercise recommendations for both distance and interval training. Incorporating interval training at the speed of your VO₂ max is the best way to keep improving the efficiency of your cardiovascular system. For long distance training, you would target a certain percentage of your VO₂ max, depending on the event.

Metabolism is basically the way our body utilizes nutrients to create, release, and use. Optimizing your metabolism is an important component to proper weight control, vital organ function, and muscle maintenance. Your RMR is the amount of energy released and used for the function of your vital organs: heart, lungs, nervous system, kidneys, liver, intestines, sex organs, muscle tissue, brain, and skin. Maintaining a high metabolic rate is essential to long term weight control.

There are several factors that affect your metabolism. Genetics certainly effects how many calories you burn each day, which is not something any of us have control over. However, the type of tissue you have plays a significant role in your metabolic rate. Individuals with higher amounts of lean muscle tissue typically have a high metabolic rate, since in order for your body to maintain a pound of lean muscle tissue it will expend seven times more energy than it does to maintain a pound of fat. The amount of calories you consume on a daily basis also affects your metabolism.

Hormone levels do not necessarily play a direct role in the amount of calories we burn, but they do impact the types of calories you burn. Low hormone levels in both men and women inhibit our ability to burn fat at a proper rate. This is one of the reasons it is more difficult to maintain an ideal body composition as we age, and why hormone replacement therapy, when appropriate, can help.

Our Exercise Physiologist will perform a thorough dietary and exercise history and evaluation. We will use your testing scores and health behavioral history to provide you with a dietary plan and exercise training program.

Energy balance and nutrition are essential factors that contribute to your athletic performance. Each body reacts differently to different nutrients and exercises. We will develop an individualized training routine and diet plan for each athlete.

Our lab will run a full hormone profile on you. This panel will include: testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, FSH, LH, TSH, free T4, and DHEA-S levels.

The role hormones play on our athletic performance, metabolism, and recovery are vital. Treatment options will be available if necessary moving forward. Dietary and exercise recommendations will also be provided to help with any deficiencies.

The FMS is a grading and ranking system that assesses the movement patterns that are essential for normal body function. Screening these movement patterns, helps identify functional limitations and asymmetries.

Resolving movement issues can improve your functional training and physical conditioning. Our Exercise Physiologist will put you through the screen, identify limitations, and teach corrective exercises to address the limitations. These exercises will be put into your training routine. Restoring proper movement patterns will help build strength and help reduce injury.

EndoPAT testing evaluates the health of your endothelial cells. Endothelial cells are the cells that line the blood vessels. A major function of the endothelial cells is to secrete nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide expands blood vessels for better flow through brain, heart, genitals, and other vital organs.

If the endothelial cells are not functioning properly, proper dilation and flow through the blood vessels will be compromised. Thus poor endothelial health is an indication of higher risk for vascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and sexual dysfunction.

The health of your blood vessels changes throughout your life, and some issues can be reversed through proper lifestyle changes.