Talk Test Performance and its Physiological Correlates During Treadmill and Cycling Exercise in Young Adults

Abstract

Background: The Talk Test (TT) is an easy, simple technique to measure the intensity of exercise based on the comfortable level of talking while exercising. Though the TT is well validated in the West, there is limited information available about its physiological validity in South Asian people. This study aims to evaluate the cardiopulmonary responses to the Talk Test stages of treadmill and cycling ergometry in young healthy adults in Peshawar, Pakistan. Methods: Healthy volunteers, 20 males and 10 females, from Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan, volunteered for the study. Two randomized sessions of exercises using the treadmill and cycle ergometer protocols were conducted. Physiological variables, including heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO₂/kg), minute ventilation (VE), respiratory rate (RR), metabolic equivalents (METs), RER, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE), were measured at rest and at three stages of TT. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the variables, while the correlation between TT stages and physiological markers was determined using the Pearson correlation test. Results: Physiological measures increased significantly across TT stages (p < 0.001). Treadmill running was associated with increased HR, VO2/kg, METs, VE, and RPE compared to CE (p < 0.05). Oxygen saturation decreased significantly across stages (p = 0.004), albeit slightly. Strong positive correlations existed between TT stages and physiological measures, including HR (r = 0.88-0.84), VO2/kg (r = 0.91-0.87), RPE (r = 0.93-0.89), VE (r = 0.90-0.85), RR (r = 0.86-0.82), and MET. Conclusion: The Talk Test is a valid, reliable, and practicable measure of exercise intensity for healthy young adults in Pakistan. The TT is highly associated with physiological measures and is a cost-effective alternative to existing objective measures of exercise intensity, useful in clinical, rehabilitation, and fitness settings in resource-limited environments.