Description of Community Services
Submaximal Exercise Test
Submaximal exercise tests in our lab our performed on a cycle ergometer or treadmill. These tests typically consist of 3-4 stages of 3-5 minutes where you may only reach 85% of your heart rate max. This will allow us to categorize your cardiovascular health by estimating your maximal aerobic capacity for exercise.
Maximal Exercise Test
Maximal exercise tests require participants to be connected to a gas analyzer that measures the amount of oxygen you consume and how much CO2 you exhale. The maximal amount of oxygen you can consume is an indication of cardiorespiratory health and fitness level. High VO2 max is generally correlated with lowered disease risk. Maximal exercise testing is typically performed on a treadmill with progressively increasing speed and/or grade lasting 8-12 minutes.
Lactate Threshold
In our lab lactate threshold testing can last from 40-60 minutes of treadmill running at varying speeds. Lactate is measured from blood samples that are collected by creating a very small incision in a participants finger. Blood samples are collected prior to testing and after each stage/speed of the test. Lactate accumulates in the body as we exercise and the point where blood lactic acid disporpotionately increases in called the lactate threshold. This threshold can be useful in predicting success in aerboic exercise such as distance running events. Used as training tool a person can workout at or near their lactate threshold to increase the intensity at which they perform and delay fatigue by adapting how the body can tolerate a certain amount of lactate buildup.
Resting Metabolic Rate
Your resting metabolic rate is the amount of energy required to sustain life's vital functions such as breathing. It accounts for 50 to 60% of daily energy expenditure and can be important information to you in regulating your weight. Resting metabolic rate requires the participant to come to the lab after an overnight fast. Once you arrived to the lab we will have you lie down on a comfortable table and we will place a hood over your head to analyze the air you breath for 15-30 minutes.
Skinfold Measurements
Skinfold measurements are performed based on the assumption that the amount of subcatenous (under the skin) fat is proportional to total body fat. Body fat and fat free mass can be estimated from this method of taking 3-7 different skinfold measurements on the body.
BODPOD
The BODPOD is another form of body composition analysis. It is a two compartment model just as a skinfold measurement in that we will estimate fat and fat free mass but it is more accurate. The BODPOD estimates body composition by measuring the amount of air your body displaces in a known space. There are some pretest guidelines such as not eating and exercising for 4 hours prior. The test will require males to wear a speedo suit or compression suits. Females are asked to wear a tight fitting one piece suit. The lab does have suits available if needed. The test visit typically takes 15-25 minutes.
Dual Energy X-Ray Absortiometry (DXA)
In the Exercise Physiology Laboratory we are interested in using the DXA for assessment of body composition. The DXA can estimate 3 compartments of body composition including fat mass, bone mineral and mineral free lean tissue. DXA uses a low dosage of radiation to assess BMD. In fact, the dose of exposure from the DXA is approximately 1/30 th when compared to a chest X-ray. This is similar to the amount of radiation you receive when spending the day outside in the sun, or during an airplane flight from New York to Los Angeles. When you come into the lab for DXA testing we ask that you don't wear anything containing any metal. Testing requires you lay flat and silently on the scanning table for 6-10 minutes. Testing and interpretation of the results typically can last from 20-30 minutes.