Abstract
Study designCross-sectional cohort study.ObjectivesTo compare ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) on Borg’s 6–20 RPE scale and Category Ratio 10 (CR10) in able-bodied (AB) participants during upper and lower body exercise, and recreationally active participants with paraplegia (PARA) and athletes with tetraplegia (TETRA) during upper body exercise only.SettingUniversity and rehabilitation centre-based laboratories in UK and Netherlands.MethodsTwenty-four participants were equally split between AB, PARA, and TETRA. AB performed maximal tests using cycle (AB-CYC) and handcycle (AB-HC) ergometry. PARA and TETRA performed maximal handcycle and wheelchair propulsion tests, respectively. Oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and blood lactate concentration were monitored throughout. RPE was rated each stage on Borg’s RPE scale and CR10. Thresholds were identified according to log-V̇O2 plotted against log-blood lactate (LT1), and 1.5 mmol L−1 greater than LT1 (LT2).ResultsRPE from both scales were best fit against each other using a quadratic model, with high goodness of fit between scales that was independent of exercise mode and participant group (range R2: 0.965–0.970, P < 0.005). Though percentage peak V̇O2 was significantly greater in TETRA (P < 0.005), there was no difference in RPE at LT1 or LT2 between groups on Borg’s RPE scale or CR10.ConclusionStrong association between Borg’s RPE scale and CR10 suggests they can be used interchangeably. RPE at lactate thresholds were independent of mode of exercise and level of spinal cord injury. However, inter-individual variation precludes from making firm recommendations about using RPE for prescribing homogenous exercise intensity.
Highlights
Intensity is a fundamental component of any form of exercise prescription
There was no significant effect of group for the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) on Borg’s RPE scale (F(3) = 0.02, P = 0.99; F(3) = 0.86, P = 0.47) (Fig. 2a) or Category Ratio 10 (CR10) (F(3) = 0.36, P = 0.78; F(3) = 2.34, P = 0.10) (Fig. 2b) at LT1 or LT2, respectively. This is the first study to directly compare Borg’s RPE scale and CR10 in participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) during upper body exercise, as well as AB during upper and lower body exercise. This was with a view to helping inform the use of RPE for exercise intensity prescription purposes
The strong association indicates that Borg’s RPE scale and CR10 can be used interchangeably, with the resultant transformation table acting as a reference for prescribing, or interpreting, equivalent ratings
Summary
Intensity is a fundamental component of any form of exercise prescription. This could be to maximise specific adaptations to training, leading to increased performance. To account for inter-individual variance in physical function, exercise intensity is often expressed in relative terms with the aim of producing homogenous stimuli between people [3]. There remains, debate as to the method for how to prescribe the relative intensity [3]. Seemingly favoured by exercise guidelines for able-bodied (AB) [4] and adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) [5], is to use a percentage of peak oxygen uptake (%V O2peak) and heart rate (%HRpeak) with boundaries defining the “moderate” or “vigorous” intensity that such guidelines recommend. An alternative is to use metabolic thresholds, such as the lactate
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