Abstract
Purpose: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: Oxygen uptake () and workload at the last positive stage (TTpos) was significantly lower than at VT.
Conclusion: 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.