Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Dyspnea for Exercise Prescription in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients

Abstract

1415 We tested the hypothesis that ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and dyspnea (RPD) from a graded exercise test (GXT) could be used to prescribe exercise training intensities with COPD patients. One hundred and forty one patients underwent a GXT prior to enrolling in an exercise training program. Average heart rate (HR), RPE and RPD data were collected during exercise training sessions 2 - 7. Regression equations were developed from the GXT data using HR as the dependent variable and RPE and RPD as the independent variables. The RPE and PRD values from the exercise training sessions were then used to predict an expected HR for these exercise sessions. The HR measured during the exercise training sessions was then compared with the predicted HRs. During the exercise training sessions, the mean HR was 114.6± 10.8 bpm, representing a training intensity of 85% of peak HR. The predicted HRs using the RPE and RPD values obtained during the exercise sessions were 115.0 ± 17.0 and 119.4 ± 17.4 bpm, respectively. Results from t-tests analysis revealed that the mean HR from the exercise training sessions was not significantly different from that predicted using exercise training session RPE data. The HR predicted from exercise training session RPD data were significantly greater than that measured during the exercise training sessions. However, from an exercise prescription standpoint, this difference is negligible. Therefore, RPE, and RPD obtained from a GXT may be used effectively to prescribe exercise training intensities for COPD patients.