Can you rub your belly and pat your head at the same time? How about walk and talk at the same time? Being able to talk while exercising is a simple way to make sure you get all the benefits of the program without the risks. So say researchers at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Sixteen healthy volunteers (men and women) were tested on a treadmill and a bike. Heart rate and breathing metabolism were measured. All subjects were asked to exercise at a comfortable level, so that they could talk at the same time. This is called the Talk Test.
Using the Talk Test as a measure of exercise intensity, the researchers found that subjects used the same amount of oxygen on the bike and the treadmill. They conclude that the Talk Test is a good way to prescribe the right level of exercise in a variety of settings.
The Talk Test is a good tool to find the best level of exercise intensity when expensive exercise testing isn’t possible.