Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is an objective method of evaluating both cardiac and pulmonary function. During the test oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output are measured on a breath by breath basis. Using this information your “Anaerobic Threshold” (AT) can be calculated.  (AT) is the point at which subject moves from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism and is a marker of the combined efficiency of the heart, lungs and circulation.  It is used to determine the efficiency of exercise programs and to prescribe exercise intensities. AT also changes as one trains, and is a very good indicator of a person’s aerobic fitness and endurance level. A shift to a higher AT means that one can work at a high level of effort without building up lactate in the blood.

The Use of Anaerobic Threshold To maximise your metabolic fitness an exercise program should vary from month to month and week to week. This is called periodization training and the goal is to emphasize different aspects of training at different and more appropriate times throughout a season or time frame. Generally, individuals should begin the season or program with a phase of easy exercise to build and establish a solid musculoskeletal and aerobic platform or “base”. After 1-2 months of this base building you will need to develop a higher tolerance for exercise that is close to and sometimes above your Anaerobic Threshold in order to shift the AT to a higher level.

This shift will enhance your fitness potential as well as creating a higher sustainable power plus a higher potential for burning calories during and even after exercise.