The validity of predicting peak oxygen uptake from a perceptually guided graded exercise test during arm exercise in paraplegic individuals.

STUDY DESIGN: Each participant completed two submaximal, perceptually guided arm crank exercise tests and a graded exercise test (GXT) to volitional exhaustion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of a submaximal, perceptually guided exercise test to predict peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak) during arm cranking in paraplegic individuals.

SETTING: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

PARTICIPANTS: Eleven men with paraplegia as a result of poliomyelitis infection or spinal cord injury completed two submaximal perceptually guided exercise tests and an arm crank GXT to volitional exhaustion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prediction of VO(2)peak was calculated by extrapolating the submaximal rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and VO(2) values by linear regression to RPE20.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between measured and predicted VO(2)peak from the three submaximal ranges of the RPE (that is, 9-13, 9-15 and 9-17) when extrapolated to RPE20 during both perceptually guided exercise tests (all P>0.05). However, the second perceptually guided exercise tests provided a more accurate prediction of VO(2)peak as reflected by narrower 95% limits of agreement and higher intraclass correlation coefficients.

CONCLUSION: This study has shown that VO(2)peak may be predicted with reasonable accuracy from a perceptually guided exercise test, especially after a full familiarization trial.