Talk Test Research Articles

An Examination and Critique of Subjective Methods to Determine Exercise Intensity: The Talk Test, Feeling Scale, and Rating of Perceived Exertion.

Prescribing exercise intensity is crucial in achieving an adequate training stimulus. While numerous objective methods exist and are used in practical settings for exercise intensity prescription, they all require anchor measurements that are derived from a maximal or submaximal graded exercise test or a series of submaximal or supramaximal exercise bouts. Conversely, self-reported subjective methods such as the Talk Test (TT), Feeling Scale (FS) affect rating, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) do not require exercise testing prior to commencement of the exercise training and therefore appear as more practical tools for exercise intensity prescription. This review is intended to provide basic information on reliability and construct validity of the TT, FS, and RPE measurements to delineate intensity domains. The TT and RPE appear to be valid measures of both the ventilatory threshold and the respiratory compensation threshold. Although not specifically examined, the FS showed tendency to demarcate ventilatory threshold, but its validity to demarcate the respiratory compensation threshold is limited. Equivocal stage of the TT, RPE of 10-11, and FS ratings between fairly good (+ 1) and good (+ 3) are reflective of the ventilatory threshold, while negative stage of the TT, RPE of 13-15, and FS ratings around neutral (0) are reflective of the respiratory compensation threshold. The TT and RPE can effectively be used to elicit homeostatic disturbances consistent with the moderate, heavy, and severe intensity domains, while physiological responses to constant FS ratings show extensive variability around ventilatory threshold to be considered effective in demarcating transition between moderate and heavy intensity domains.

Regulated Monosyllabic Talk Test vs. Counting Talk Test During Incremental Cardiorespiratory Exercise: Determining the Implications of the Utterance Rate on Exercise Intensity Estimation.

PurposeWhen utilizing breathing for speech, the rate and volume of inhalation, as well as the rate of exhalation during the utterance, seem to be largely governed by the speech-controlling system and its requirements with respect to phrasing, loudness, and articulation. However, since the Talk Test represents a non-standardized form of assessment of exercise intensity estimation, this study aimed to compare the utterance rate and the estimated exercise intensity using a newly introduced time-controlled monosyllabic Talk Test (tMTT) versus a self-paced Counting Talk Test (CTT) across incremental exercise stages and examined their associations with the exercise physiological measures.MethodsTwenty-four participants, 10 males and 14 females (25 ± 4.0 yr; 160 ± 10 cm; 62 ± 14.5 kg) performed two sessions of submaximal cardiorespiratory exercise at incremental heart rate reserve (HRR) stages ranging from 40 to 85% of HRR: one session was performed with a currently available CTT that was affixed to a wall in front of the participants, and the other session was conducted with a tMTT with a 1-s inter-stimulus interval that was displayed from a tablet. In each session, the participants performed six stages of exercise at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 85% HRR on a treadmill and were also asked to rate their perceived exertion based on Borg’s 6 to 20 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) at each exercise stage.ResultsThe newly designed tMTT significantly delineated all the six stages of incremental exercise (p ≤ 0.017), while CTT could only delineate exercise stages at 60, 80, and 85% HRR. However, in estimations of exercise intensity, the tMTT demonstrated only moderate associations with HRR and Borg’s RPE, similarly to the CTT.ConclusionIf the purpose of exercise monitoring is to detect the intensity of light, moderate, and vigorous exercise intensity, the tMTT could be more universally applicable. However, due to its larger variability of speech rate across exercise intensities, the time-regulated approach may alter the speech breathing characteristics of the exercising individuals in other ways that should be investigated in future research.

Effects of Multicomponent Exercise Training Program on Biochemical and Motor Functions in Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a multicomponent exercise training program on motor function and biochemical markers in patients with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. Twenty patients with Alzheimer disease, divided into the intervention group (IG; aged 84 ± 3.1 years) and the control group (CG; aged 86 ± 2.6 years) were included in this study. The intervention group was enrolled into an exercise training program for three months (two sessions of 60 min per week). The CG was instructed to follow their daily rhythm of life (e.g., rest, reading) without a physical training program. After 3 months of participation in a multicomponent exercise program, gait speed, balance and walking parameters were all improved in the intervention group as measured with the Berg Balance Scale, the Tinetti test, the 6-min walking test and the timed up and go test (p < 0.05 for all; percentage range of improvements: 3.17% to 53.40%), except the walking while talking test, and biochemical parameters were not affected (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrate that exercise improves postural control, aerobic capacity and mobility functions in patients with Alzheimer disease. Physical exercise is a safe and effective method for treating physical disorders in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and can easily be integrated in various programs for the management of Alzheimer disease.

Effect of subjective tool based aerobic exercise on pulmonary functions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus – a feasibility RCT

Literature has proved the benefit of exercise on pulmonary functions among the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, objective tools of exercise intensity prescription have been used in previous trials. The trials to explore the effectiveness of subjective tools-based exercise on pulmonary functions among these patients are scarce. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of subjective tools-based exercise among patients with T2DM. Another objective was to see the effectiveness of this kind of exercise on pulmonary functions among patients with T2DM. 49 patients were randomly allotted to three groups, talk test group (TTG, n=16); rating of perceived exertion group (RPEG, n=16); and control group (CG, n=17). Subjects were evaluated for five progression criteria. The intervention period for the groups was 8 weeks. Recruitment and retention rate was 62.82 and 75.5%, respectively. Adherence rate was 67.34% and 58.91% for supervised and unsupervised sessions, respectively. 78.38% of the patients were available for post-intervention outcome evaluation. A significant increase in pulmonary functions in both the experimental groups (P=0.00) was found after 8 weeks of training. This study provides evidence that a trial of this nature is feasible with a few amendments in methodology. Additionally, the study also concluded that the subjective tool based aerobic exercise may be effective in improving pulmonary functions among patients with T2DM. Trial registration at Clinical Trial Registry-India: CTRI/2019/02/017531.

Use of real-time cadence to prescribe aerobic physical activity intensity and its comparison with existing methods

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of physical activity intensity prescription using real-time cadence on achieving the required intensities for health benefits. Forty adults (18–65 years) participated in the study. The intensity prescriptions included Rating of Perceived Exertion, Talk Test, Heart Rate, and Real-Time Cadence. The participants performed a2-min trial for both moderate- and vigorous-intensity according to each prescription. Atri-axial accelerometer was used as acriterion measure. After completion of the trials, participant’s preference for the prescriptions was assessed by three domains (e.g., understanding, performing, maintaining). The compliance and achievement rates of RC were calculated and compared to other prescription methods. Coefficient of Variance was used to evaluate the extent of variation of intensity during the trials. Higher compliance rates were found in both moderate- (92.1%) and vigorous-intensity (94.9%) when using RC. When using RC, most participants (92.5%) were able to achieve the targeted moderate-intensity, but not for vigorous-intensity although asignificant difference was found between the two intensities (p < .001). Overall, RC was the most favoured method in all three domains. RC is apromising tool to prescribe moderate-intensity of physical activity for health benefits but still needs to be refined on prescribing vigorous-intensity.

Examining interindividual differences in select muscle and whole-body adaptations to continuous endurance training.

What is the central question of the study? Do interindividual differences in trainability exist for morphological and molecular skeletal muscle responses to aerobic exercise training? What is the main finding and its importance? Interindividual differences in trainability were present for some, but not all, morphological and molecular outcomes included in our study. Our findings suggest that it is inappropriate, and perhaps erroneous, to assume that variability in observed responses reflects interindividual differences in trainability in skeletal muscle responses to aerobic exercise training. Studies have interpreted a wide range of morphological and molecular changes in human skeletal muscle as evidence of interindividual differences in trainability. However, these interpretations fail to account for the influence of random measurement error and within-subject variability. The purpose of the present study was to use the standard deviation of individual response (SDIR ) statistic to test the hypothesis that interindividual differences in trainability are present for some but not all skeletal muscle outcomes. Twenty-nine recreationally active males (age: 21±2years; BMI: 24±3kg/m2 ; ; 45±7ml/kg/min) completed 4weeks of continuous training (REL; n=14) or control (n=15). Maximal enzyme activities (citrate synthase and β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase), capillary density, fibre type composition, fibre-specific succinate dehydrogenase activity and substrate storage (intramuscular triglycerides and glycogen), and markers of mitophagy (BCL2-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), BNIP3-like protein, parkin and PTEN-induced kinase 1) were measured in vastus lateralis samples collected before and after the intervention. We also calculated SDIR values for , peak work rate and the onset of blood lactate accumulation for the REL group and a separate group that exercised at the negative talk test stage. Although positive SDIR values - indicating interindividual differences in trainability - were obtained for aerobic capacity outcomes, maximal enzyme activities, capillary density, all fibre-specific outcomes and BNIP3 protein content, the remaining outcomes produced negative SDIR values indicating a large degree of random measurement error and/or within-subject variability. Our findings question the interpretation of heterogeneity in observed responses as evidence of interindividual differences in trainability and highlight the importance of including control groups when analysing individual skeletal muscle response to exercise training.

急性期脳梗塞患者の病棟内歩行自立判定に関連する要因の検討 ─Berg Balance Scale, Moss Attention Rating Scale, Stop Walking When Talking test による多変量解析─

急性期脳梗塞患者の病棟内歩行自立判定に関連する要因の検討 ─Berg Balance Scale, Moss Attention Rating Scale, Stop Walking When Talking test による多変量解析─

Effects of Home-based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Using The Talk Test in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Purpose : In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program using a talk test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods : The subjects in this study were 20 patients who were diagnosed COPD. We measured forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), COPD assessment test (CAT), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and left and right grip strengths before and after 4 weeks of training. We analyzed the data using a paired t test. Results : A significant increase in FVC, FEV₁, PEF, and left grip strength was observed. However, no significant differences in CAT, 6MWT, and right grip strength were noted. Conclusion : A home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program using the talk test positively affected respiratory function in patients with COPD.

Validating the walking while talking test to measure motor, cognitive, and dual-task performance in ambulatory individuals with multiple sclerosis

IntroductionMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is associated with demyelination of the central nervous system that negatively impacts both motor and cognitive function, resulting in difficulty performing simultaneous motor and cognitive tasks, or dual-tasks. Declines in dual-tasking have been linked with falls in MS; thus, dual-task assessment with the Walking While Talking Test (WWTT) is commonly utilized in the clinical setting. However, the validity and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the WWTT has not been established for persons with MS. The primary objective of the study was to establish the WWTT as a valid measure of dual-task function by examining concurrent validity with other motor, cognitive and dual-task measures, and to establish the MDC for both the simple and complex conditions of the WWTT. MethodsIn a single visit, 38 adults (34 female, mean (SD) age 49.8(±9.1), Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) mean 3, range 1–6) completed the WWTT simple (walk while reciting the alphabet) and complex (walk while reciting every other letter of the alphabet) conditions as well as a battery of cognitive and motor tests. Spearman correlations were used to examine concurrent validity. The sample was divided into low and high disability groups to determine the impact of disability severity on relationships among WWTT and cognitive and motor function. ResultsExcellent concurrent validity (r ≥ 0.79; p < 0.001) was observed for the WWTT simple and complex with both motor (Timed Up-and-Go, Timed 25-Foot Walk, forward and backward walking velocity, Six-Spot Step Test) and dual-task measures (Timed Up-and-Go Cognitive). The WWTT-simple demonstrated moderate concurrent validity with measures of processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, p = 0.041) and was related to all motor and dual-task measures across disability levels. The WWTT complex was only related to complex motor tasks in the low disability group. Within the low disability group, WWTT was associated with processing speed (p = 0.045) and working memory (California Verbal Learning Test, p = 0.012). The MDC values were established for WWTT simple (6.9 s) and complex (8 s) conditions. DiscussionThe WWTT is a quick, easy-to-administer clinical measure that captures both motor and cognitive aspects of performance for persons with MS. Clinicians should consider adding the WWTT to the evaluation of persons with MS to examine dual-task performance.

Muscle oxygenation assessment during talk test to determine the anaerobic threshold in individuals with cardiovascular disease

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. Background Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is the reference method for assessing gas exchange threshold (GET), a surrogate of the anaerobic threshold (AnT). However, muscle oxygenation has been shown as an additional tool for AnT determination, using the lower limb threshold (LLT). Besides, Talk Test (TT), a tool used to assess, prescribe, and monitor exercise intensity through speech comfort level, has shown a correlation with GET as well. Purpose To identify the AnT obtained from the traditional method from CPET (GET) and the LLT; to compare heart rate (HR) and tissue saturation index (TSI) data at AnT (GET and LLT); to compare the parameters of LLT on CPET and TT, and to correlate LLT and TT stages in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. Methods CVD patients underwent CPET and TT, both on a treadmill, in two distinctive days. During those tests, peripheral muscle oxygenation was assessed by the near-infrared spectroscopy method. GET (CPET) was determined by the V-slope method; LLT (CPET and TT) was determined by the visual inspection of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin curves. A TT protocol based on the prediction equation for the covered distance of the six-minute walk test (6MWD) was applied. TT protocol was incremental, with two-minutes stages starting at 70% of the average velocity predicted and 2% of inclination, increasing velocity in 10 percentage points (p.p.) at each stage, until the fifth stage, at which the inclination was increased in 2 p.p. until test completion. At the end of each stage, patients read a standardized paragraph and were asked about speech comfort. Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to assess data distribution. Wilcoxon test was applied to compare physiological variables (HR and TSI) at GET and LLT. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test was assessed to compare the variables at LLT and TT stages (last TT+ and first TT±). Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between variables. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results 24 cardiovascular patients were included. Similar values of HR (GET vs. LLT: 102 ± 15 bpm vs. 99 ± 14 bpm, p = 0,08), and TSI (GET vs. LLT: 64,6 ± 8,2% vs. 66,4 ± 7,8%, p = 0,09) were observed during CPET. Regarding LLT at CPET and TT, there was no difference between HR (CPET vs. TT: 99 ± 14 bpm vs. 100 ± 12 bpm, p = 1,00) and TSI (CPET vs. TT: 66,4 ± 7,8% vs. 65,3 ± 4,9%, p = 1,00). Furthermore, good relationship between HR in LLT and TT stages (LLT vs. TT+: r = 0,79; LLT vs. TT±: r = 0,76; p &amp;lt; 0,05 for both) was found. Conclusions Our results showed similarity between LLT and GET. Besides, TT showed a similar response of muscle oxygenation and heart rate comparing to CPET, with a good correlation between LLT and TT stages. These results endorse the validity of TT as an auxiliary and low-cost tool to identify the AnT.

The talk test"s responsiveness to an 8-week exercise-training program in cardiovascular disease patients

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Talk test (TT) is an alternative and accessible tool for prescribing and monitoring aerobic training intensity. Although the TT is reliable and valid for cardiorespiratory assessment, its responsiveness to exercise training remains unexplored. Purpose To evaluate the responsiveness of TT in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients who underwent an exercise training program. Methods Twenty-one CVD patients (61.7 ± 8.4 years) performed an exercise-training program on phase II of cardiac rehabilitation (45-min 3-times a week). The six-minute walk test (6MWT) and TT were done to assess functional capacity at baseline and after 8 weeks. In the individualized TT the treadmill’s speed and/or grade were increased every 2-min, with speed changes based on a reference equation for the 6MWT distance (6MWD). The subjects were asked to read a 38 words standard paragraph at the last 30s of each stage and to answer if they could talk comfortably. Answer options were i) YES (TT+), ii) UNCERTAIN (TT±), or iii) NO (TT-). The first ventilatory threshold (VT1) was identified by two reviewers using the heart rate variability analysis. A paired t-test was applied to analyze the TT duration and 6MWD. The VT1 and TT workload were analyzed by the Wilcoxon test. Spearman correlation was adopted to compare the TT± and VT1 stages. Results Improvement in the VT1 (2.9 ± 1.2 vs 4.4 ± 1.4 min; p &amp;lt; 0.001), duration (12.1 ± 4.4 vs 14.9 ± 5.2 min; p &amp;lt; 0.001), workload at TT- (67.8 ± 48.4 vs 104.5 ± 65.9 w; p &amp;lt; 0.001), and in the 6MWD (471.5 ± 100.3 vs 533.7 ± 92.9 m; p &amp;lt; 0.001) were observed. There was strong correlation between TT± and VT1 in pre (r = 0.613; p &amp;lt; 0.05) and post-rehabilitation (r = 0.678; p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion Talk test performed on a treadmill showed responsiveness after eight weeks of exercise training, being sensitive to the physiological changes provided by the rehabilitation program in CVD patients.

Reliability of graded cycling test with talk test and 30-s chair-stand test in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy.

To investigate the absolute and relative reliability of the "graded cycling test with talk test" (GCT-TT) and the "30-second chair-stand test" (30s-CST) in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Men with prostate cancer on ADT were included in this test-retest study. GCT-TT and 30s-CST were performed twice with 1hour between test sessions. All tests were conducted by two experienced physiotherapists and all patients were familiar with the tests. Only intra-tester reliability was investigated as the test and retest of each participant were performed by the same physiotherapist. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2.1), standard error of measurement (SEM and SEM95), and smallest real difference (SRD) were calculated. Sixty men were included with a mean age of 70.8 ± 6.6 (mean ± SD) years. All performed 30s-CST twice without any problems. Two participants were excluded from the analysis of the GCT-TT results. Relative reliability for 30s-CST (ICC2.1) was 0.97 [95% CI: 0.94-0.98] with low measurement error: SEM95, 1.9 repetitions, and SRD, 2.6 repetitions. The corresponding results for GCT-TT were ICC2.1, 0.90 [95% CI: 0.84-0.94]; SEM95, 19.9W; and SRD, 28.2W. The reliability of 30s-CST and GCT-TT is substantial for men with prostate cancer receiving ADT. Overall, an average 30s-CST improvement of 1.9 repetitions on a group level and three repetitions for individual patients are considered real improvements. A GCT-TT improvement exceeding 19.9W represents a real improvement for a group of patients. Individual patients need to improve two steps (30W).

Talk test: a simple alternative to identify lactate thresholds during progressive cycling exercise

The assessment of speech production difficulty has been used to control aerobic exercise intensity through the Talk Test method. The aim of this study was to compare the Talk Test variables to lactate thresholds using an incremental test. Thirteen male subjects performed an incremental cycle test to identify the first lactate threshold (LT1), second lactate threshold (LT2) and transition points of the Talk Test. During the incremental exercise test subjects read aloud a standard paragraph at the end of each stage. The last stage at which the subjects could talk comfortably, the first stage at which the subjects could not talk comfortably, and the first stage at which they definitely could not talk comfortably were referred to as the last positive (LP), equivocal (EQ) and negative stages (NEG), respectively. The power output (88±22W) and heart rate at the first lactate threshold (115±15 bpm) were significantly lower (p&amp;lt;.05) than the power output at the last positive (127±26 W) and heart rate (131+21 bpm) at the last positive. The power output and heart rate at the second lactate threshold (169.5 ± 22.6 W; 157 ± 14 bpm) were not significantly different (p=.195) from power output and heart rate at the equivocal (178.8± 30.3 W; 161 ± 15 bpm). The heart rate at the second lactate threshold and equivocal were significantly correlated (r=.57; p&amp;lt;.05). In conclusion, this study showed that the equivocal stage of the Talk Test can be used as a simple tool to indirectly identify the second lactate threshold in healthy men during cycling exercise.

Carotid Revascularization Improves Balance and Mobility, Particularly in Patients That Are Most Impaired

Balance and mobility function worsen with age, and more so for those with underlying diseases. Our research has demonstrated that asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) is associated with worse balance and mobility, and a higher fall risk, compared to older adults with similar comorbidities, but without ACAS. Thus, ACAS, with attendant blood flow-restriction to the brain is a potentially modifiable risk factor for balance and mobility dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of restoring blood flow to the brain by carotid revascularization, on balance and mobility in patients with high-grade ACAS (≥70% diameter-reducing stenosis). Twenty adults (67.0±9.4 years) undergoing carotid revascularization for high-grade stenosis were enrolled. A balance and mobility assessment was performed before- and six weeks- after carotid revascularization and included: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Four Square Step Test (FSST), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) Timed Up and Go (TUG), gait speed, MiniBESTest, and Walk While Talk (WWT) test. Paired t-tests assessed changes in outcome measures between the two-time points. Significant improvements were observed in measures that combined walking with dynamic movements, DGI (P=0.003), and MiniBESTest (P=0.021). Pearson’s correlations examined the relationship between balance and mobility before surgery and change score after surgery. Patients with lower baseline DGI and MiniBest scores demonstrated the most improvement on follow-up testing (r=-0.70, p=0.001, and r=-0.59, p=0.006, respectively). In conclusion, revascularization of a carotid artery stenosis improves balance and mobility; the greatest improvements are observed in those patients that are the most impaired.

EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON FATIGUE AND DEPRESSION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory condition causing pain, disability, and psychological distress. It is the most common chronic inflammatory joint disease, affecting 0.1-1% of the population. Women are affected 3 times more than men. Because of its chronic, painful, and disabling character, RA tends to have a profound impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Materials and methods: In the present study a convenience sample of 30 individuals between 30 to 60 years of age group according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The exercise intervention was participation in aerobic exercise session 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. The session consisted of 3 phases –1)Warm-up phase 2).Aerobic period 3) Cool down phase.Subjects were given their target heart rate for 40% and 60% of their HRmax. They were instructed to start exercising at 40% and progress to 60% as tolerated given their subjective exertion using the Talk Test (being able to talk while exercising without being short of breath). Global Fatigue Index Of The Multidimensional Assessment Of Fatigue Questionnaire (GFI) and The Center for Epidemiologic Studies- Depression Scale (CES-D)were used as outcome measures for evaluating fatigue and severity of depression respectively in the subjects and the data was statistically analysed. Results: Paired t-test was done for pre and post mean values for MAF-GFI scale. The results showed statistically significant values for both the outcome measures (p value &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The present study concludes that 6 weeks of aerobic exercise showed significant effect in decreasing fatigue and depression in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fatigue, Depression, Aerobic Exercise.

Generalized Approach to Translating Exercise Tests and Prescribing Exercise.

Although there is evidence supporting the benefit of regular exercise, and recommendations about exercise and physical activity, the process of individually prescribing exercise following exercise testing is more difficult. Guidelines like % heart rate (HR) reserve (HRR) require an anchoring maximal test and do not always provide a homogenous training experience. When prescribing HR on the basis of % HRR, rating of perceived exertion or Talk Test, cardiovascular/perceptual drift during sustained exercise makes prescription of the actual workload difficult. To overcome this issue, we have demonstrated a strategy for “translating” exercise test responses to steady state exercise training on the basis of % HRR or the Talk Test that appeared adequate for individuals ranging from cardiac patients to athletes. However, these methods depended on the nature of the exercise test details. In this viewpoint, we combine these data with workload expressed as Metabolic Equivalent Task (METs). We demonstrate that there is a regular stepdown between the METs during training to achieve the same degree of homeostatic disturbance during testing. The relationship was linear, was highly-correlated (r = 0.89), and averaged 71.8% (Training METs/Test METs). We conclude that it appears possible to generate a generalized approach to correctly translate exercise test responses to exercise training.

Talk Test As A Measure Of Exercise Intensity In Children

INTRODUCTION: The Talk Test (TT) is a well-accepted measure of exercise intensity and is a useful surrogate of ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation (RCT) thresholds in sedentary, fit, athletic, and cardiac populations. Recently, the TT has also been shown to reflect these same markers in children. PURPOSE: The present study was designed 1) to replicate TT results during incremental exercise in children, and 2) to evaluate the ability of the TT to predict when the subjects would be above (-TT) or below (+TT) VT intensity during interval exercise. METHODS: Healthy pre-pubertal children (5m, 5f) were studied using the TT and gas exchange during incremental exercise to determine the match between TT stages and VT. Another group of healthy pre-pubertal children (7m, 6f) were studied both during incremental and stochastic exercise, in order to determine how well TT responses during stochastic exercise predicted whether the children were above or below VT. RESULTS: During incremental exercise, there was good correspondence between the VO2@VT and the VO2@ the last positive (LP) (r=0.79) and the equivocal (EQ) (r=0.75) stages of the TT, which match earlier findings from our laboratory (Giddings et al., 2018; LP TT, r=0.62 & EQ TT, r=0.75). During stochastic exercise, correct matching of predicted vs. observed +TT and predicted vs. observed -TT were present 73% of the time. Discordant results were present 27% of the time. These findings match earlier findings from our laboratory in adults relative to the matching of observed vs. predicted results. CONCLUSION: The TT behaves as a similar surrogate of VT in children, as it does in adults, during both incremental and stochastic exercise.

Validity of the Talk Test as a Method to Estimate Ventilatory Threshold and Guide Exercise Intensity in Cardiac Patients.

To determine the relationship between the Talk Test (TT) and ventilatory threshold (VT) in patients with cardiac disease and to compare the TT with exercise intensity guidelines. Twenty cardiac patients, aged 65 ± 8.5 yr, performed 2 exercise tests with identical ramp protocols on a cycle ergometer on the same day. One test was a submaximal effort to assess exercise intensity using the TT. The other was a cardiopulmonary exercise test using breath-by-breath gas analysis to identify VT and cardiorespiratory fitness. Oxygen uptake and workload at the last positive stage (TTpos) was significantly lower than at VT. and workload at the equivocal stage (TTeq) and the first negative stage (TTneg) were not significantly different from VT, but limits of agreement (LoA) were wide. There was no significant difference in heart rate (HR) at TTpos and TTeq compared with VT, but HR at Tneg was significantly higher. The correlations between the TT and VT ranged from 0.37 to 0.60. Intensity at the different TT stages ranged from 58-77% of . All TT stages were within intensity guidelines of 40-80% of . Although no significant differences were found in and workload for TTeq and TTneg when compared with VT, LoA demonstrated wide ranges, suggesting poor individual correspondence. The different stages of the TT can be used as a practical method to guide exercise intensity in patients with cardiac disease.

Use of the Talk Test for Comparison of Exercise Intensity between Aerobic Activities with Treadmill and Bicycle

Use of the Talk Test for Comparison of Exercise Intensity between Aerobic Activities with Treadmill and Bicycle

Between Rhetoric, Social Norms, and Law: Liberty of Speech in Republican Rome

Abstract Although modern Republicanism, which highly values the right of freedom of speech, finds its inspiration in the historical reality of the Roman Republic, it seems that in the course of the Republican period citizens shared a recognised ability to speak freely in public, but did not enjoy equal status with one another in the domain of speech as protected by law. Of course, Republican Rome knew laws regulating free speech and perhaps even later provisions had been passed concerning iniuria. However, in these cases, as later on under Augustus, these measures acted as means of restraint and inhibition and did not directly address the right of the individual to speak freely. The fundamental question this paper addresses is why, in the course of the Republic, the right to speak freely was not protected by law and never came to be recognised as a formalised subjective right in Republican Rome. The answer, I argue, lies in the fact that in Rome speaking freely was conceived as the positive moral quality that characterised a natural ability of human beings, and thereby it could not have provided a field of legislation. It follows that the Roman Republic would not have passed the ‘straight talk test’ that modern Republicanism requires for the establishment of a free and just society. However, Republican Rome invites us to think about liberty of speech as belonging to the realm of ethics: as a moral quality sustained by contemporary social norms, not subject to legislation, which inevitably ends up protecting the interests of a group or groups and their specific speech regimes.