Metabolic Testing
Metabolic Testing at the HSS Sports Performance Center can help individuals reach their health and fitness goals through a variety of assessments designed for both the everyday athlete as well as the elite endurance athlete, and everyone in between. Whether you are just getting started with exercise or looking to build on the program you already have, our 1-1 guidance can help bring it all together.
Metabolic testing is performed by experienced exercise physiologists and measures the physiological response to exercise. This provides information on your:
- Peak aerobic capacity, or VO2max
- Lactate profile and lactate threshold
- Running or cycling economy
- Metabolic efficiency
- Caloric expenditure during exercise
This helps us better understand how to devise training zones and target opportunities for improvement. Improvement can look like many things: the ability to go on longer hikes, setting a new personal best in a race, or even just lowering your risk of disease while promoting longevity.
- Exercise Testing can be performed running and walking on a treadmill and cycling.
- A resting test can be done to determine your resting metabolic rate and daily energy expenditure for nutrition planning.
- Protocols are selected based on fitness level and training history as well as type of service.
During this test, you will wear a tight-fitted mask over your nose and mouth which is attached by tubing into our Parvo TrueOne Metabolic cart. This is the research-grade, gold standard device used at the Olympic Training Center.
All exercise tests include general recommendations for how to improve as well as training zones based on either ventilatory thresholds or lactate thresholds. For personalized training plans, consider our coaching services.
Benefits include:
- Establish baseline of your current level of fitness
- Assess the effectiveness of your current training plan
- Identify areas where performance gains are possible
- Identify individualized target heart rate, pace, and power zones for training
- Identify precise caloric expenditure at various exercise intensities, providing tools for fueling strategies
2025 Pricing
Resting Metabolic Rate Assessment: $200
During this assessment you will lie down, awake, for about 30 minutes while we take measurements with the metabolic cart. Plan to attend this assessment in the morning after an overnight fast for the best results.
- You will receive your resting metabolic rate, resting calorie expenditure, and percent of resting energy used by carbohydrates versus fats.
Aerobic Capacity Test (VO2 Max only): $300
The aerobic capacity, or VO2max, assessment is a shorter protocol that measures your overall aerobic capacity, or VO2max, and helps us examine your health & fitness level.
- This test does not include lactate testing or an efficiency analysis. If you are training for a race, we recommend either the aerobic base submaximal or full metabolic profile tests.
- This test is for those who want to know what their VO2max is and track it over time.
Aerobic Base Submaximal Test: $450 ($405 for NYRR members)
This test is designed to help identify your submaximal training zones and provide insight into changes in heart rate, VO2, lactate, and energy efficiency during your transition from easy to harder intensities.
- This test measures heart rate, VO2, lactate, and calorie burn for training intensities from very easy to your lactate threshold.
- This test does not go to maximal effort and therefore does not report VO2max.
- This test is best for those who may not be comfortable pushing to maximal effort.
- This test is also best for individuals new to exercise.
Full Metabolic Profile: $450 ($405 for NYRR members)
Our full metabolic profile takes the best of the aerobic base and aerobic maximal capacity tests and examines lactate profile, metabolic efficiency, and peak performance all in one go.
- This test measures heart rate, VO2, lactate profile, and threshold, and energy use for your training intensities from easiest to maximal effort.
- This test is best for people who are already exercising for at least 6 months, who are runners, cyclists, and athletes of all kinds looking to include more aerobic exercise in their training program and assess their VO2max.
- This is your all-inclusive option for those looking to take a deep dive into their aerobic potential.
Race Pace Efficiency Test: $300
This test is designed for the athlete gearing up for peak performance, who is interested in assessing the effectiveness of their current training program and working towards the edge they need to meet their goals.
- We highly recommend conducting the Full Metabolic Profile before this assessment for better comparison to your baseline.
- This is a great follow up assessment prior to a race or to adjust your current training program.
- This test measures heart rate, oxygen consumption, lactate, and energy use for your goal race pace and threshold pace.
- This assessment can provide great insight for coaches and athletes as they prepare for race day.
Basic Running Package: $760 ($685 for NYRR members)
Take your running to the next level with a 2-part analysis in this comprehensive baseline package.
- A Running Mechanics Assessment to gain a better understanding of how you run and opportunities for performance improvement and injury reduction
- An Advanced Metabolic Profile to identify precise training paces and heart rates and the potential to maximize race day performance
Elite Running Package: $1,260 ($1,135 for NYRR members)
Take a deeper dive into your running performance and training strategies with this 4-part comprehensive package.
- A Running Mechanics Assessment to gain a better understanding of how you run and opportunities for performance improvement and injury reduction
- An Advanced Metabolic Profile to identify precise training paces and heart rates and the potential to maximize race day performance
- A Nutrition Consultation with a Registered Dietician provides to leverage the data from your metabolic test to strategize optimal fueling strategies and improve metabolic efficiency
- A 1 on 1 training session with an exercise physiologist who will address any strength and mobility deficits identified with a customized strength training home exercise plan
Silver Level 12-Week Coaching Package: $1,635 ($1,365 for NYRR members)
This 3-part package leverages data from your metabolic profile to identify specific training zones and workouts to help maximize your personal performance. This package includes:
- A Full Metabolic Profile
- 12-week aerobic training program
- 3 strength and stability training sessions
- 4 coaching check ins virtual or in person
