HHP Sports Lab Services

Sports Lab Services

For cost and registration information, click the blue registration button above. Our HHP Sports Lab team looks forward to seeing you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic requirements for testing?

To take part in the exercise tests, you must be healthy and at least 16 years old (18 years old for the lactate test). If you suffer from or are currently in one of the following physical conditions you should not take part in the fitness tests (VO2 Max, Lactate Threshold):

• Heart Issues
• Lung Issues
• Metabolic Issues
• Muscle Disorders
• Nerve disorders
• Infection
• Severe Anemia
• Recent Surgery
• Recent Injury
• Pregnancy

If you're unsure whether you qualify, please contact Dr. Joel Harden at [email protected]

Please be aware that graded exercise tests, such as the VO2 max test and lactate threshold tests, are considered a form of strenuous exercise that pushes the body to its maximal exertion. For individuals with underlying health conditions, particularly those related to the heart, this test may increase the risk of an adverse cardiac event.

Only individuals who are healthy and regularly engage in vigorous physical activity should participate in a VO2 max or lactate threshold test. If you have any concerns about your health or exercise habits, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before undergoing this test.

*The UTC Sports Lab team reserves the right to decline administering an exercise test based on the pre-health screening survey. If the sports lab team decides not to proceed with the test, the client will be notified and will receive a full refund. 

What can I expect during the Sports Lab testing?

After you register for a test in the Sports Lab, you’ll receive an email with a link to schedule your visit to the HHP Sports Lab and complete the pre-health screening survey. Lab appointments are available on Monday and Tuesday mornings and afternoons, and on Friday mornings. The pre-health screening survey helps ensure that you're healthy enough for the test you signed up for and helps us choose the right testing method for your visit. As a part of the pre-health screening survey, you'll also be asked if you'd like your results to be included in a research study (the PSI Study). Participating in the study is optional, and if you choose to join, your personal details will be removed from the data, keeping you completely anonymous.   

If you're taking an RMR or VO2 max test, you'll be in the lab for roughly an hour; a lactate test will take about an hour and a half to two hours; a body composition test will take 15 minutes to complete. You'll receive your results and an interpretation sheet within 48 hours for RMR and VO2 max tests, within 24 hours for a body composition test, and within 4-5 days for a lactate test (excluding weekends). For details on each test, check the Services section.

Which graded exercise test is right for me: the VO2 max test or the Lactate Threshold test?

It is not always necessary for an athlete to complete both a VO2 max test and a lactate threshold test, and understanding the purpose of each can help athletes decide which one is more appropriate for their goals. Both tests provide valuable, yet distinct, insights into an athlete’s endurance capacity and training needs.

The VO2 max test reflects an athlete’s aerobic capacity and is often used as a benchmark for endurance potential. It’s most appropriate for those athletes who want to assess their overall aerobic fitness and compare it to norms, or to use it for monitoring personal progress. It can also be used to set training intensities by defining different zones that are based on percentages of Vo2 max (i.e. 60-70% for endurance work, 80-90% for threshold work).

The Lactate Threshold test determines the point during exercise at which lactate begins to accumulate in the bloodstream faster than it can be cleared. This threshold indicates the highest intensity at which an athlete can sustain aerobic exercise without rapid fatigue. This test is appropriate for those runners who utilize heart rate zones when training, and who want to improve sustainable pace and performance at race intensity. Compared to the VO2 max test, the Lactate Threshold test guides training intensity more precisely since it directly measures the athlete’s metabolic responses to exercise.

Depending on your training goals, it may be appropriate for you to complete both a VO2 max test and a Lactate Threshold test. VO2 max gives you an overall measure of aerobic capacity, while lactate threshold tells you how much of that capacity you can actually use efficiently during a race. Athletes who complete both tests can use the VO2 max score to monitor their aerobic capacity, and can use lactate threshold to improve sustainable pace and endurance performance.

VO2 Max Test

Summary: The VO2 max test measures the maximum amount of oxygen a person can consume during exercise, serving as the gold standard for assessing aerobic capacity. It involves an ~8-12-minute graded exercise test to exhaustion, using a metabolic cart to analyze oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, fuel utilization, and other metrics while the athlete's heart rate and perceived exertion are recorded.

Tangible Results: Athletes will receive their raw data from the metabolic cart, along with an interpretation sheet that includes their VO2 max, ACSM fitness category charts for age-based comparison, and general training zones based on VO2 max percentages.

Benefits: Understanding your VO2 max helps you determine whether your training regimen is optimal, it enables performance monitoring, and it helps determine if you are adequately prepared for endurance events. The VO2 max informs the athlete of his or her aerobic capacity, metabolic efficiency, and overall fitness level. 

Duration on Lab Visit: Athletes can expect to be in the lab for roughly an hour. On average, athletes complete the graded exercise test in 8-12 minutes.

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)

Summary: An RMR test offers a noninvasive and precise method for calculating the daily calories required to sustain an athlete’s present body weight. During the test, the athlete sits comfortably in a reclined chair before starting the test to achieve a true resting state. The athlete wears a mask connected to the metabolic cart. After approximately 20 minutes, the metabolic cart will begin measuring VO2 and VCO2. The athlete should remain as still as possible, breathe normally and avoid talking or moving during the test.

Tangible Results: Athletes will receive their RMR (cal/day).

Benefits: It can be difficult for active individuals to maintain or gain muscle, especially while training for an athletic competition. Measuring one’s RMR is a beneficial first step in determining how many calories are needed to sustain one’s current weight and muscle mass. Also, RMR is a useful tool in helping those who want to either gain muscle or lose weight. 

Duration of Lab Visit: Athletes can expect to be in the lab for roughly an hour.

Lactate Threshold

Summary: Using heart rate zones (HRZs) helps athletes train effectively. Since heart rates vary widely, the best way to find an athlete’s HRZs is through a lab-based lactate threshold test. A lactate threshold test identifies the point at which lactate accumulates in the blood faster than it can be cleared, leading to fatigue. Athletes start the test at a slow pace, and gradually increase their speed while wearing a mask, with blood lactate levels measured through finger pricks and validated by a metabolic cart.

Tangible Results: Athletes will receive their raw data from the metabolic cart, and an interpretation sheet outlining their heart rate zones based on lactate readings and gas exchange.

Benefits: The Lactate Threshold test is the gold standard for determining personalized heart rate zones for effective training.

Duration of Lab Visit: Athletes can expect to be in the lab for roughly an hour and a half. On average, athletes complete the graded exercise test within ~45 minutes.

Body Composition

Summary: The InBody 380 is a quick, non-invasive test that measures body composition, including body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, total body water, and segmental muscle balance. During the test, participants stand barefoot on the device and hold hand electrodes while a safe, low-level electrical current passes through the body to assess tissue composition.

Tangible Results: Participants receive a detailed printout that includes their body fat percentage, lean body mass, total body water, muscle mass for each limb and segment of the body, and visceral fat level. This report provides a snapshot of overall body composition and can be used to monitor changes over time.

Benefits:This test provides a more complete picture of your health and fitness than a scale alone. It helps track changes in muscle and fat over time, supports personalized training and nutrition goals, and can identify muscle imbalances between different areas of the body. These insights can be valuable for athletes, individuals working toward body composition goals, or anyone wanting to better understand their current fitness status.

Duration of Lab Visit: 15 minutes