Perceived Effort Levels Research Articles

IDIOSYNCRATIC ELEMENTS IN MUSIC-RELATED GESTURE-SOUND RELATIONSHIPS: A HINDUSTANI DUET PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

This study investigates the correlation between body movements and the voice in the context of North Indian Classical (or else Hindustani) vocal music, specifically focusing on its Dhrupad subgenre. In particular, it examines manual interactions with imaginary objects (MIIOs) commonly observed among vocalists, including actions such as stretching, pulling, pushing, and throwing, as well as the physical effort exerted on these occasions. The analysis employs video observations of originally recorded audio-visual material from a Dhrupad vocal improvisation performance. A previous association analysis conducted between MIIO gesture classes, perceived effort levels, and melodic aspects revealed a certain level of consistency among the two vocalists, albeit with individual variations revealing an idiosyncratic aspect in the way these gestures might be expressed. Given that the selected performers (brothers, Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha) share the same musical background and experience and that they are recorded singing in duet in a single performance of the same melodic mode (raga), instead of examining their common gesturing manners, the current paper focuses exclusively on the idiosyncratic deviations in gesturing habits observed between the two brothers and the associations of these gestures to their melodic counterparts. The analysis relies on quantitative statistical methods of pertinent movement and acoustic features, and the results yield valuable insights in ethnomusicology and embodied music cognition. They additionally offer crucial guidance on the use of music technologies and motion capture methods to develop quantitative approaches that complement existing qualitative methodologies.

Energy Expenditure Validation of an Exergame Platform: Ring Fit Adventure Use in Adults with Overweight and Obesity.

Objective: This study aims at comparing the energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR) data from Ring Fit Adventure (RFA) with those from indirect calorimetry (COSMED) and a heart rate monitor (Polar FT7). A secondary goal is to evaluate self-reported enjoyment and perceived effort levels. Materials and Methods: Thirty participants (age = 21.8 ± 2.2; body mass index = 31.8 ± 4.4) were recruited for two laboratory visits. The first visit involved baseline measurements. In the second visit, participants performed a 55-minute ad libitum exercise session with the RFA in adventure mode with moderate difficulty. During this session, EE, HR, perceived effort, and enjoyment of physical activity were recorded. Results: Although no statistically significant overestimation of EE was found between the RFA and the metabolic cart, two-way analysis of variance results show a main effect of condition (RFA vs. Polar FT7) on HR (122.8 ± 20.1 bpm and 129.0 ± 18.6 bpm; P = 0.007; ᶯp2 = 0.235). Based on comprehensive statistical evaluations, including the mean absolute percent error, intraclass correlations, typical error of measurement, and limits of agreement, the data suggest that the RFA provides reliable estimates for EE and HR. Overall, participants enjoyed the game considerably (71.3 ± 5.9/80 arbitrary units), and their reported perceived exertion was low. Conclusion: This study underscores that the RFA values are relatively accurate and precise, and thus it can be safely suggested for individuals with overweight and obesity to adopt an active lifestyle.

Using the Borg CR10 Physical Exertion Scale to Measure Patient-perceived Vocal Effort Pre and Post Treatment

Reduction of vocal effort is a therapeutic goal in resonant voice therapy and in the treatment of a variety of voice disorders. The Borg CR10 is a perceived effort scale that is widely accepted across a wide variety of disciplines. The purpose of the present study was to examine (1) the utility of an anchored, adapted Borg CR10 in observing treatment-related vocal effort reduction and (2) the convergent validity of the Borg CR10 in its relation to Voice Handicap Index (VHI) item 14. This is a pretest-posttest experimental design. A total of 36 individuals with phonotraumatic hyperfunctional voice disorders completed item 14 of the VHI and the Borg CR10 at the start and completion of four sessions of resonant voice therapy treatment. Scores from the Borg CR10 significantly differentiated pre- from post-therapy perceived effort levels. Convergent validity was demonstrated through significant associations with scores from item 14 of the VHI. The anchored Borg CR10 is an easy to use clinical tool to capture treatment-related vocal effort reduction. Whereas VHI item 14 indicates how frequently increased perceived effort is experienced, the Borg CR10 captures the severity of perceived effort used. Thus, the two measures complement each other.

Predicting Sales Manager Control: A Comparison Of Control-System And Leadership Approaches

<span>How much latitude should the field sales manager allow his or her subordinates? Two schools of thought have addressed this question. This study tests proposals from these two approaches. The control-system approach contends the field sales managers behavior should be consistent with other sales organization controls. The findings here do not support these contentions but do provide some support the leadership approach. The sales managers in this study varied their control behaviors depending upon the quality of their working relationship with their subordinate or upon the perceived effort levels of the salesperson.</span>

Knee extensor torque and quadriceps femoris EMG during perceptually-guided isometric contractions

The aim of this study was to examine superficial quadriceps femoris (QF) EMG and torque at perceived voluntary contraction efforts. Thirty subjects (15 males, 15 females) performed 9, 5 s, sub-maximal contractions at prescribed levels of perceived voluntary effort at points 1–9 on an 11-point scale (0–10), in a random order. Surface electromyograms (EMG) of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) muscles, as well as QF peak torque (PT), average torque (AT), and torque coefficient of variation (C.V.), were sampled. The raw EMG signals were full-wave rectified and integrated over the middle three s of each contraction. The sampled EMG signals, and PT and AT at each perceived exertion level were normalized to the average of three maximal voluntary contractions. The normalized EMG and torque values at each perceived exertion level were then compared to equivalent percent values (i.e., 10% at a perceived level of 1). The results demonstrated that at all perceived exertion levels, with the exception of the RF at a level of 2 which was equivalent to 20%, and the VL and RF muscles at a level 1 in which activation was greater than 10%, activation was significantly less than the equivalent percent value at each point on the scale. VM EMG was found to be less than the VL and RF from contraction levels 3–9. PT was shown to be less than the equivalent percent values at contraction levels 6–9. The AT was found to be lower than the expected percent value at perceived effort levels 2–9. Torque C.V. was not found to be different across the range of perceived effort. The major findings of this study suggested that humans over-estimate voluntary QF muscle torque when guided by perceptual sensations. It is also suggested that the produced EMG signals revealed a reliance on the VL muscle for knee extensor torque generation at sub-maximal levels.

The effects of voluntary contraction effort on quadriceps femoris electromyogram median frequency in humans: a muscle and sex comparison.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of voluntary contraction efforts on the median frequency (f(med)) of the electromyogram (EMG) recorded from the quadriceps femoris muscle in healthy men and women. A group of 30 healthy volunteers (15 men, 15 women) were assessed for EMG activity of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) muscles during isometric contractions with the knee at 60 degrees flexion. Subjects performed a series of 5 s maximal voluntary isometric contractions that anchored the perceptual range with a "10" on a 10-point scale. Sub-maximal isometric contractions were then separately performed at the following perceived effort levels on the 10-point scale: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, in a random order. Subjects were instructed to maintain the contraction at each perceived level of effort for 5 s. The f(med) of the three muscles was assessed using a power spectrum analysis performed over 11 consecutive, 512 ms, epochs overlapping each other by half their length during the middle 3 s of each contraction. The f(med) for each of the 11 epochs was then determined for each muscle, followed by calculation of the means and normalized coefficients of variation [(standard deviation/mean)x100%] for each contraction. The results demonstrated that the mean f(med) of VL was significantly greater than those of the other two muscles, and that f(med) of RF was significantly greater than that of VM. The VL muscle demonstrated a significant increase in mean f(med) across the contraction efforts, compared to the VM and RF muscles that displayed a significant decrease. The men displayed significantly higher f(med) values for the VM muscle than did the women, as well as showing a significantly greater increase across the contraction efforts for the VL muscle. The variability of f(med) was shown to be significantly higher for the VM muscle, compared to the VL and RF muscles. The findings of this study suggest that the f(med) statistic is most sensitive to contraction intensity efforts for the VL muscle, and that men display significantly higher values for the VL and VM muscles, compared to women.

Exercise Regulation during Cycle Ergometry Using the Children’s Effort Rating Table (CERT) and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scales

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale and the Children’s Effort Rating Table (CERT) as methods of regulating exercise intensity during discontinuous cycle ergometry. Sixty-four school children (ages 9–10) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, RPE or CERT, and received two trials 7 days apart. On both occasions, subjects produced 4 × 4-min scale-specific exercise intensities—3, 5, 7, and 9 (CERT) or 8, 12, 15, and 18 (RPE)—interspersed with 2-min rest periods. Analyses yielded significant (p < .01) correlations between perceived effort levels and objective measures: r = .47 to .61 (heart rate) and r = .59 to .75 (power output). Intraclass correlations indicated satisfactory overall repeatability of the produced exercise intensities (R > .70), but some notable inconsistencies were observed. The usefulness of effort perception scales among preadolescent children is presently rather limited, probably due to a number of confounding factors that need to be systematically addressed.