Relationship between perceived exertion and physiologic markers during arm exercise with able-bodied participants and participants with poliomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the strength of the relationship between ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and oxygen uptake (Vo(2)), heart rate, ventilation (Ve) and power output (PO) during an arm-crank ramped exercise test to volitional exhaustion in men and women who differed in physical status.

DESIGN: Each participant completed an arm-crank ramp exercise test to volitional exhaustion. PO was increased by 15 W.min(-1) and 6 W.min(-1) for men and women able-bodied participants, respectively; for the poliomyelitis participants, 9 W.min(-1) and 6 W.min(-1) increments were used for men and women, respectively.

SETTING: Laboratory facilities at a university.

PARTICIPANTS: Able-bodied participants (n=16; 9 men, 7 women) and participants with poliomyelitis (n=15, 8 men, 7 women) volunteered for the study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Strength of the relationship (R(2) values) between RPE and Vo(2), heart rate, Ve and PO.

RESULTS: There were significantly higher values for maximum Vo(2) and maximum PO for able-bodied men compared with their counterparts with poliomyelitis (P<.05). However, when the data were controlled for age, there were no significant differences in these values (P>.05). Similar results were observed for the women who were able-bodied as well as for the women who had poliomyelitis (P>.05). The relationships between heart rate and RPE and Ve and RPE for able-bodied patients and patients with poliomyelitis were similar (R(2)>.87). The relationship between Vo(2) and RPE was stronger in the able-bodied participants compared wih the participants with poliomyelitis, regardless of sex (P<.05). However, when the data were controlled for age, there was no significant difference in the strength of this relationship between able-bodied participants and those with poliomyelitis, regardless of sex (P>.05).

CONCLUSIONS: RPE is strongly related to physiologic markers of exercise intensity during arm exercise, irrespective of sex or participant's poliomyelitis status.