Relationship Between Perceived Exertion and Physiologic Markers During Arm Exercise With Able-Bodied Participants and Participants With Poliomyelitis

Abstract

Al-Rahamneh HQ, Faulkner JA, Byrne C, Eston RG. 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 (V̇ o 2), heart rate, ventilation (V̇ e) 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 15W·min −1 and 6W·min −1 for men and women able-bodied participants, respectively; for the poliomyelitis participants, 9W·min −1 and 6W·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 V̇ o 2, heart rate, V̇ e and PO. Results There were significantly higher values for maximum V̇ o 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 V̇ e and RPE for able-bodied patients and patients with poliomyelitis were similar ( R 2 >.87). The relationship between V̇ o 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.