This
study was designed to assess the ability of the Talk Test (TT) to track
training-related changes in ventilatory threshold (VT). Thirteen recreational
athletes (20.5±1.91 years, males=7)
completed two incremental exercise tests (one with respiratory gas exchange and
one with the TT) before and after six weeks of self-directed increases in training
load. The TT was used to predict VT by assessing the ability to speak
comfortably after three-minute exercise stages, based on speech comfort while
reciting a 100-word passage. Training load was documented from exercise logs
based on session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and training duration. Repeated
measures ANOVA, with the Tukey’s post-hoc analysis, was used to detect
differences between the changes in power output (PO) at the equivocal stage of the
Talk Test (EQ) and VT measured by gas exchange (p<.05). Significant mean differences
were found between pre- vs. post-training PO and measured VT (116+32.4
vs. 134+32.4 Watts) (p<.05) but not at the EQ stage of the TT (125+40.8
vs. 135+29.8 Watts). The increase in PO at VT (+15.5%) was significantly
underestimated by the change in PO at the EQ stage of the TT (+8.0%). The correlation
between changes in PO at VT and PO at the EQ stage of the TT was r=0.66, p<.01.
However, about 50% of participants did not change their PO at the EQ stage of
the TT, so the individual correspondence between TT and measured VT was only
moderately strong.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.