Differentiated Perceived Exertion and Self-Regulated Wheelchair Exercise

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the utility of the differentiated ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) for the self-regulation of sub-maximal wheelchair propulsion in novice users. Design: Each participant completed a sub-maximal incremental test and a graded test to exhaustion to determine peak oxygen uptake (O V  2peak) on a wheelchair ergometer. On a separate day, two 12-min intermittent bouts consisting of three 4-min stages were completed at individualised imposed power outputs (PO) equating to 'light' (40% O V  2peak) and 'moderate' (60% O V  2peak) intensity exercise. On a third occasion, participants were assigned to either the overall group or peripheral group and were required to self-regulate 12-min intermittent exercise according to either overall RPE or peripheral RPE reported during the corresponding imposed intensity trial. Setting: Laboratory facilities at a university. Participants: A preliminary population of able-bodied participants with no prior experience of wheelchair propulsion (n=18). Main Outcome Measures: Differences in oxygen uptake (O V  2), heart rate, blood lactate concentration (BLaˉ) and PO between the imposed and self-regulated exercise trials. Results: No difference was found in physiological responses between the moderate intensity imposed and RPE-regulated trials in the peripheral group whereas a significant (P<0.05) under-production in O V  2 (1.76±0.31 vs. 1.59 0.25 L•minˉ¹) and BLaˉ (2.6 ±0.90 vs. 2.21±0.83 mmol•Lˉ¹) was seen in the overall group. In contrast a significant (P<0.05) overproduction was seen in the peripheral group at a light exercise intensity whereas no difference between all variables during the light-intensity imposed and RPE-regulated trials in the overall group.

Assessment of peak oxygen uptake during handcycling: Test-retest reliability and comparison of a ramp-incremented and perceptually-regulated exercise test

“…Whilst a submaximal PRET using arm crank ergometry has been shown to be valid for the prediction of [30], no study has investigated the PRET max using an upper body exercise modality. It has been shown that RPE can be used to regulate exercise intensity during handcycle exercise [31] and wheelchair propulsion using experienced [32] and novice participants [33]. Evidence supporting the ability of the PRET max protocol to measure during upper body exercise could have implications for the exercise testing of many people with disabilities, such as spinal cord injury, where exercise choice is limited to those involving the upper body.…”

Wheelchair users' perceived exertion during typical mobility activities

“…[14][15][16] As for wheelchair users, they rely entirely on the upper limbs for both ambulation and weight-bearing tasks. The shoulder is poorly designed for this purpose, and thus becomes exposed to excessive, repeated interarticular pressures in conjunction with a more abnormal distribution of stresses across the subacromial area.…”

Exercise equipment preferences among adults with spinal cord injury

“…The use of peripheral RPE for regulating moderate intensity wheelchair exercise has been shown to be effective in a group of able-bodied participants; however, applicability in the SCI population has yet to be established. 19 An obvious limitation to this study was that all of our participants did not complete the exercise bouts using each piece of exercise equipment. We felt this would provide a more accurate reflection of the equipment used in community exercise facilities and we did not feel it was ethically appropriate to require our participants to use pieces of equipment they were not comfortable using.…”