Talk Test for the Prescription of Aerobic Exercise in Cardiovascular Disease: Which Stage is Most Appropriate?

The aim of this study was to determine which stage of the Talk Test (TT) represents the most appropriate workload for prescribing aerobic exercise in cardiovascular rehabilitation.

Individuals with cardiovascular disease underwent a 3-day evaluation. Day 1: cardiopulmonary exercise test; day 2: 2 incremental TT (conventional and with gas analysis); day 3: 2 constant workload TT (CWTT) based on the intensities of the stages last positive (LPTT) and first equivocal (EQTT). Friedman's test was used to compare the heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake ( ) from the CWTT with the first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2). The association between HR and of VT and CWTT was analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Chi-square test was used to analyze the proportion of individuals who reached the moderate intensity zone during the CWTTs, considering HR, HR reserve (HRR), and .

Thirty-two individuals (23 male, 61 ± 10 years) were included. Heart rate in LPTT was similar to VT1 and lower than VT2 ( P < .001). The HR in EQTT was higher than the VT1 ( P = .002) and lower than VT2 ( P < .001). The during CWTT was similar to VT1 and lower than VT2 ( P < .001). The EQTT showed a higher proportion of individuals with HR and between the VT (HR: 70% vs 53%, P = .026; : 48% vs 31%, P = .023), as well as with HRR in the moderate intensity zone ( P = .025).

Exercise intensity similar to the EQTT promotes HR and responses more consistent with the recommended exercise intensity (moderate). This stage represents the most appropriate workload for aerobic exercise prescription in cardiovascular rehabilitation.