The Talk Test to Measure Exercise Intensity in Children

Authors

  • Debra Sazama University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
  • Carl Foster University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
  • Cordial Gillette University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
  • Bryana Petersin University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
  • Brandon VanGalen University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
  • Zack Beddoes Brigham Young University
  • Kaylee Selden University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/TPE-2023-V80-I2-11486

Abstract

The Talk Test (TT) is a measure of exercise intensity that has been used in a variety of populations. This study extends the use of the TT as a method to measure exercise intensity in prepubertal children. Healthy children performed an incremental exercise test and then either an interval-based exercise session on the treadmill or a 30-min free-play activity session in the gymnasium. The subject read a short (~100 word) passage and responded to “can you speak comfortably?” If the subject was able to speak comfortably, it was recorded as the positive (+) stage of the TT. If the individual was able to speak but with some difficulty, it was recorded as the equivocal stage (+/-). If the subject was unable to speak comfortably, it was recorded as the negative (-) stage. Ventilatory threshold (VT) was determined in the laboratory through respiratory gas exchange. During the interval-based activity and free-play session, the TT was used in the prediction of whether the subject was exercising at an intensity below or above their VT. Data analysis was performed with a chi-squared test for determining statistical significance. In both the interval-based exercise session and the free-play activity, the TT was effective at predicting whether the subject was exercising at an intensity below or above their VT. Correct predictions were made 73.3% of the time for the interval-based exercise group and 81.6% of the time for the free-play session. The TT appears to be a valid predictor of exercise intensity in prepubertal children participating in interval exercise or free play.

Author Biographies

Debra Sazama, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Assistant Professor in Physical Education Teacher Education

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4197-0081

Carl Foster, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Cordial Gillette, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Bryana Petersin, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Brandon VanGalen, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Kaylee Selden, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Published

2023-03-06

Issue

Section

Articles