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

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.ObjectiveTo investigate the strength of the relationship between ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and oxygen uptake (V̇o2), heart rate, ventilation (V̇e) and power output (PO) during an arm-crank ramped exercise test to volitional exhaustion in men and women who differed in physical status.DesignEach 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.SettingLaboratory facilities at a university.ParticipantsAble-bodied participants (n=16; 9 men, 7 women) and participants with poliomyelitis (n=15, 8 men, 7 women) volunteered for the study.Main Outcome MeasuresStrength of the relationship (R2 values) between RPE and V̇o2, heart rate, V̇e and PO.ResultsThere were significantly higher values for maximum V̇o2 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 V̇e and RPE for able-bodied patients and patients with poliomyelitis were similar (R2>.87). The relationship between V̇o2 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).ConclusionsRPE is strongly related to physiologic markers of exercise intensity during arm exercise, irrespective of sex or participant's poliomyelitis status.