CardioCoach Plus

The CardioCoach Plus from KORR Medical Technologies delivers simple and accurate fitness testing. It measures key data including peak VO2, anaerobic threshold, and the precise amount of calories burned at all exercise heart rate levels. This data can be used as the foundation for customized exercise programs that truly meet the needs of the individual. One session with the CardioCoach empowers clients with the ability to meet their fitness goals efficiently and safely with no unnecessary fatigue or wasted time. The CardioCoach Plus also measures Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) to construct personalized weight loss programs. In the past, these types of measurements have only been available by using cumbersome, expensive equipment, and generally only available at hospitals, universities, or professional training facilities.

Affordable For about the cost of a treadmill, you can purchase your own CardioCoach Plus. Leasing options make it even more realistic for small gyms and personal trainers to have state of the art equipment that offers both VO2 and metabolic testing in one unit..

Easy To Use The CardioCoach is so simple to use that any of your current employees can administer the test. It is self calibrating, compact, and portable (weighing less than 8 lbs). Each mask is disposable so no clean up is needed, and the results are presented on a printout that is clear and easy to understand.

VO2 is the rate of oxygen uptake, or consumption, measured during exercise. The maximum rate of oxygen uptake is called the VO2max or maximum VO2. VO2max is the ultimate measure of fitness and is reported in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute or ml/Kg/min. To achieve a high VO2max, a person must have a fit heart and lungs and significant lean muscle mass that is well conditioned. The table below shows how fitness is assessed based on VO2max.

VO2 max tables - Data from Cooper,K. The Aerobics Way. New York, Bantam Books,Inc. 1982.

Since true VO2max measurements require exercising to the maximum level of exertion, they should only be done under medical supervision, or by persons who have been cleared to exercise extreme exertion by their physician. Peak VO2, or the maximum level of oxygen uptake achieved during a sub-maximal test can also be used to predict the VO2 max had the test been allowed to progress to the predicted maximum heart rate.

A VO2 test will also show the anaerobic threshold. The anaerobic threshold is the level of exercise intensity beyond which the body can no longer provide adequate oxygen to the muscles. Exercise below the anaerobic threshold should be comfortable even though the exercise extends for long periods. Exercise above the anaerobic threshold will improve cardiovascular fitness, but will also cause discomfort, fatigue, and muscle soreness.

Knowing the unique anaerobic threshold can be used to design a workout plan that will improve fitness and maximize calories burned. Measurement of VO2max or PeakVO2 will provide a true assessment of fitness level.

The CardioCoach test will provide all of this data that is vital to proper fitness training. In addition, a CardioCoach test will also measure how many calories are burned during a workout at every exercise heart rate level. This information, along with a heart rate monitor, or a heart rate equipped bike or treadmill, can be used to calculate the precise amount of calories burned during a workout.

In addition to the client benefits, fitness testing utilizing the CardioCoach can provide a source of income to clubs or trainers. The following table exhibits the income possible based on the number of tests per month.

These scenarios assume that the CardioCoach analyzer is purchased on a 24-month lease and that a disposable mask is used for each test. The exact revenue generated depends on the number of tests performed and the amount charged for each test.

VO2 max is considered by exercise physiologists to be the ultimate indicator of cardiovascular fitness. V02 max is the maximum amount of oxygen consumed by your body during exercise. The CardioCoach uses VO2 max along with your age to indicate fitness level. A personalized exercise regimen based on true VO2 max is essential to optimum cardio training.

The body can supply adequate oxygen to the muscles up to a certain exercise intensity level or threshold. This threshold is called the anaerobic threshold (AT). Exercising below the anaerobic threshold should be possible for long periods of time without experiencing muscle fatigue or soreness during or following the workout. Working out above the anaerobic threshold will improve cardio-vascular fitness, but it will also lead to fatigue and discomfort during and following the workout.

The CardioCoach report includes a table indicating how many calories a client burns at every exercise heart rate level. With this information, there is no longer a need to rely on generalized estimates of calories burned provided by a bike or treadmill.

Step1 Set Up the System
Press the On/Off key on the front of the CardioCoach to turn on the system. The green light below the on/off key will be lit when the device is powered on.

Step 2. Select Test Type
After the device has been turned on, it will prompt the user to select the type of test to be run. The test type options are Step Test, Cycle, Treadmill, and Other.

Step 3. Enter the age, height, weight, and sex
The CardioCoach needs data about the subject to be able to make calculations that are included on the report. The user is prompted to enter the age, height, weight, and sex of the user. To enter a value, press the up and down arrow keys until the desired value is shown on the screen. Once the desired value is shown, press the “Enter” key. When enter is pressed, the value is stored, and the user is prompted to enter the next value. After all the data has been stored, the CardioCoach proceeds to the calibration stage.

Step 4. Wait for automatic calibration to complete
The CardioCoach is completely Self-Calibrating. The user should not need to perform any calibration procedures other than removing the breathing hose prior to calibration. During calibration, the CardioCoach draws room air past the oxygen sensor. Removing the breathing hose from the filter during calibration assures the free flow of air coming out of the CardioCoach. After the oxygen sensor has been calibrated to room air, the system detects baseline, or zero, flow.

Step 5. Connect the mask to the subject. The CardioCoach needs to analyze all of the air exhaled during the test. If the subject were to inhale through the system, the resulting measurements would be in error and there would be a chance of cross-contamination. To prevent inhaling through the system, one-way valves are used to ensure that only exhaled gasses enter the breathing hose. During inspiration, the intake valve is open allowing room air to enter the mask or mouthpiece and the exit valve is closed ensuring that no room air enters the CardioCoach. During exhalation, the intake valve is closed to prevent leakage to the room and the exit valve is open ensuring that all expired gas passes through the CardioCoach. A head strap is used to hold the mask in place during the test.

Make sure that the heart rate pick up is plugged into the front of the CardioCoach in the connector labeled “heart rate jack”. The heart rate receiver should be placed less than 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) from the heart rate monitor. If the subject’s heart rate is displayed on the red numeric digits, then the heart rate monitor is working.

Step 6. Connect the hose between the mask and the CardioCoach.
At the conclusion of calibration, the CardioCoach display will show “Calibration Complete, Waiting for First Breath”. When this message is shown, connect the hose between the mask and the CardioCoach.

Step 7. Conduct the Exercise Test.
The exercise test consists of a test phase and a recovery phase. In the test phase, exercise intensity should be increased gradually over a period of 6 to 20 minutes until the subject reaches his or her maximum exertion level.

If the desired outcome is to determine the anaerobic threshold only, then the exercise test need only proceed until the “AT DETECTED” message is shown on the CardioCoach text display. If the goal of the test is to determine Max VO2, then the exercise intensity should be increased until the subject indicates that his or her maximum intensity level has been met.

Step 8. Print the Report.
A report will be printed when the “Enter” key is pressed at any time during the recovery phase.

After the report is printed and the test is complete the CardioCoach can be turned off. To perform another test, turn on the CardioCoach again and repeat steps 1 through 8 above.

Parameter	CardioCoach Specification
Dimensions	15” (Wide) x 4” (High) x 13” (Deep
Weight	3.5 Kg. (7 Lb. 14 Oz.)
Accuracy
VO2	Greater of ± 5% of reading or 100 ml/minute
Caloric Expenditure	Greater of ± 5% of reading or 0.25 calories/minute
Minute Ventilation	Greater of ± 3% of reading or 2.5L/minute
Heart Rate	±3 beats per minute
Relative Humidity	±5% relative humidity
Temperature	± 2 degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure	± 5 mm. Hg.
Power Requirements	< 1.5 Amps at 12 Volts DC
Korr Product Number QuickStart	9FG0057
Korr Product Number Basic Kit	9FG0011

CardioCoach Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CardioCoach test easy to administrate?

YES. After CardioCoach automatically calibrates, it will ask for basic information (age, height, weight, sex). Your client will then perform a simple submax stress test with a treadmill, exercise bike, or stepping block while CardioCoach captures his or her expired air. The test will last from 6 to 15 minutes. Detailed results and interpretive information are delivered directly from the printer.

How does CardioCoach measure metabolic rate?

Your body consumes a fixed amount of oxygen per calorie burned. CardioCoach measures the amount of oxygen in the air you exhale to calculate how much oxygen your body is consuming. Based on your oxygen consumption, CardioCoach then figures the exact amount of calories you are burning at each level of exercise.

What is anaerobic threshold?

Anaerobic threshold is the point at which your body switches from burning primarily fat stores to using the quick energy your muscles have stored. This is frequently referred to as your target heart rate. Exercising at or below you anaerobic threshold allows you to exercise for longer periods with less fatigue and discomfort, while maximizing your fat burning.

Don’t the charts at the gym tell me my target heart rate?

Charts are merely averages of people that are the same age and weight. Studies show that these can be wrong for any given individual by 40-50%! The only way to know your true target heart rate is to measure how much oxygen your body is using as you increase the intensity of your workout. This is precisely the information that CardioCoach gives you!