In the older days, physical tests were all done by simple means, like seeing how many push-ups one can do, or how far or fast someone can run. Today, these tests are still used to measure physical skills/wellness, but there are a lot more technology based tests today that give educated measurements of all kinds of things.
The VO2 max machine measures all kinds of things from someones heart rate, to the amount and concentration of gases expired from the mouth. These things together measure a persons VO2 max, which is thier maximum oxygen uptake. This number gives you the best idea of an athletes anaerobic threshold.
There are devices that are like scales that hook into computers that can measure ones strength, both static and dynamic. With a machine like this, the person would exert force the surface that does the measuring and the computer would calculate how much force was being exerted.
Another good strength test is the hand grip dynomometer. This machine measures grip strength, which is very indicitive of a persons upper body strength. There are many more machines that measure physical thresholds and there continues to be more that come out every year.
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Yes, the VO2 machine is a very impressive piece of equipment, easily costing over $100k. Like you said, it's capable of many different tests, from the HR hookups to the CO2 and O2 being exchange, from which we are able to calculate REE and other important measures that we can track exactly when a particular person is using fats vs glucose for energy consumption. thank you, technology.
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