Use of the Talk Test for Comparison of Exercise Intensity between Aerobic Activities with Treadmill and Bicycle

Purpose@#The talk test (TT) is an alternative, self-reported method for prescribing and guiding exercise training in both healthy adults and patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. This study examined whether the TT is a valid tool for evaluating the exercise intensity during two different types of aerobic activity on a treadmill or stationary bicycle in a healthy population. @*Methods@#A total of ten subjects (six males and four females) who had no medical history related to musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary disorders were enrolled in this study. They were evaluated using the TT, which consisted of three-level of difficulties demanding cardiac loads while performing aerobic activities on a treadmill and bicycle ergometer across two consecutive days in a counterbalanced manner. During the activities, the psychophysiological response markers were collected in terms of the heart rate, oxygen saturation, rating of perceived exertion, and metabolic equivalents. @*Results@#Statistical analyses revealed a significant difference in the between-subject variance regarding the TT level effect (p0.05) and the TT level×group interaction (p>0.05). The independent t-test indicated no significant differences in heart rate, oxygen saturation, rating of perceived exertion, and metabolic equivalents at any levels of the TT in the two groups. The TT showed a strong correlation with the rating of perceived exertion. @*Conclusion@#This study showed that the TT is a valid and alternative tool for evaluating the aerobic exercise intensity in a healthy population. In addition, differences in the psychophysiological response markers between two aerobic activities, treadmill and bicycle ergometer, were detected in the same exercise intensity scaled with the TT. The TT can be used to evaluate and prescribe the exercise intensity of aerobic activity in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy.

Use of the Talk Test for Comparison of Exercise Intensity between Aerobic Activities with Treadmill and Bicycle

Purpose@#The talk test (TT) is an alternative, self-reported method for prescribing and guiding exercise training in both healthy adults and patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. This study examined whether the TT is a valid tool for evaluating the exercise intensity during two different types of aerobic activity on a treadmill or stationary bicycle in a healthy population. @*Methods@#A total of ten subjects (six males and four females) who had no medical history related to musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary disorders were enrolled in this study. They were evaluated using the TT, which consisted of three-level of difficulties demanding cardiac loads while performing aerobic activities on a treadmill and bicycle ergometer across two consecutive days in a counterbalanced manner. During the activities, the psychophysiological response markers were collected in terms of the heart rate, oxygen saturation, rating of perceived exertion, and metabolic equivalents. @*Results@#Statistical analyses revealed a significant difference in the between-subject variance regarding the TT level effect (p0.05) and the TT level×group interaction (p>0.05). The independent t-test indicated no significant differences in heart rate, oxygen saturation, rating of perceived exertion, and metabolic equivalents at any levels of the TT in the two groups. The TT showed a strong correlation with the rating of perceived exertion. @*Conclusion@#This study showed that the TT is a valid and alternative tool for evaluating the aerobic exercise intensity in a healthy population. In addition, differences in the psychophysiological response markers between two aerobic activities, treadmill and bicycle ergometer, were detected in the same exercise intensity scaled with the TT. The TT can be used to evaluate and prescribe the exercise intensity of aerobic activity in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy.

Motor Skill Learning on the Ipsi-Lateral Upper Extremity to the Damaged Hemisphere in Stroke Patients

PURPOSE: This study examined whether there is a difference in motor learning through short-term repetitive movement practice in stroke survivors with a unilateral brain injury compared to normal elderly participants. METHODS: Twenty-six subjects who were divided into a stroke group (n=13) or sex-aged matched normal elder group (n=13) participated in this study. To evaluate the effects of motor learning, the participants conducted a tracking task for visuomotor coordination. The accuracy index was calculated for each trial. Both groups received repetitive tracking task training of metacarpophalangeal joint for 50 trials. The stroke group performed a tracking task in the upper extremity insi-lesional to the damaged hemisphere, and the normal elder group performed the upper extremity matched for the same side. RESULTS: Two-way repetitive ANOVA revealed a significant difference in the interactions (time×group) and time effects. These results indicated that the motor skill improved in both the stroke and normal elder group with a tracking task. On the other hand, the stroke group showed lesser motor learning skill than the normal elder group, in comparison with the amount of motor learning improvement. CONCLUSION: These results provide novel evidence that stroke survivors with unilateral brain damage might have difficulty in performing ipsilateral movement as well as in motor learning with the ipsilateral upper limb, compared to normal elderly participants.

Comparison of the Electromyographic Activity in the Lower Trapezius Muscle According to Four Different Types of Exercises in Healthy Adults

PURPOSE: This study examined the most effective exercise while performing shoulder abduction below ninety degrees. METHODS: Thirty two healthy individuals (17 males, 15 females) participated and performed four exercises, 1) Posterior fly, 2) Prone row, 3) Modified prone cobra, and 4) External rotation in the prone position. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the electrical activities for the lower, middle and upper fiber of trapezius and serratus anterior. RESULTS: A significant difference in the muscle activities of the upper/middle/lower trapezius and serratus anterior was observed among the three different positions in terms of the PF (posterior fly), PR (prone row), and MPC (modified prone cobra) (p<0.05). In post-hoc analysis, the activities of the lower and upper trapezius were significantly higher than those of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior (p<0.05). In addition, in ERP (external rotation in prone), there was a significant difference in each activity of the muscles. Post-hoc results indicated that the upper trapezius showed greater EMG activity than the other three muscles. CONCLUSION: External rotation in the prone position revealed the highest activation of the lower trapezius compared to upper trapezius muscle activity. This may be particularly useful in isolating the lower trapezius in cases where excessive scapular elevation is noted. Therefore, the most effective lower trapezius exercise should be performed below ninety degrees of shoulder abduction.

Consideration of the Exercise position for Facilitating Gluteus Medius Maximally in Normal Adults

PURPOSE: This study examined the most efficient exercise position to activate the gluteus medius (GM) and tensor fascia latae (TFL) in hip abduction in side-lying (HA-SL), clam in side-lying (CL-SL), and sling bridging in side-lying (SB-SL), which are the most representative GM exercises. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy male adults aged from 20 to 40 years, whose body mass index was under 25, participated in this experiment. While all participants conducted three different positions with a counterbalanced manner, such as in AB, CL, and BR, activation of the GM and TFL was measured using 8-channel wireless EMG. Exercise was performed for 10 seconds three times in total with a five minute-break session. RESULTS: Significant differences in GM and TFL activation were observed among the three positions (p<0.05). The highest activation of 60.69 was observed in BR followed in order by 46.03 and 12.92 in HA-SL and CL, respectively. TFL activation in HA-SL was 42.01, followed in order by 35.98 and 14.01 in BR and CL, respectively. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in TFL muscle activation between BR and HA-SL. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both BR and HA-SL in GM can be done selectively. CL has remarkably low muscle activation in GM and TFL, which makes it less valuable in GM and TFL exercise. In conclusion, selective BR and HA-SL exercise should be applied to maximally and effectively activate the GM.