Prediction of maximal oxygen uptake from the ratings of perceived exertion and heart rate during a perceptually-regulated sub-maximal exercise test in active and sedentary participants

Abstract

This study assessed whether the accuracy of predicting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) from sub-maximal heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) values was moderated by gender and habitual activity. In total, 27 men and 18 women completed two GXTs to determine VO2max and three perceptually-regulated GXTs, incremented by RPE 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17. The RPE and HR were individually regressed against VO2max (approximately 0.96) to enable predictions of VO2max. The VO2max was predicted from three RPE ranges (9-17, 9-15, 9-13). The RPE ranges were extrapolated to RPE(19), RPE(20) and age-predicted maximal HR (HRmax(pred)). ANOVA revealed no differences between measured and predicted VO2max (P > 0.05) when the RPE range 9-17 was extrapolated to RPE(19) and HRmax(pred). Extrapolation of RPE 9-17 to RPE(20) overestimated VO2max (P < 0.05), but no differences were observed when predicted from the RPE ranges 9-15 and 9-13. The prediction of VO2max was not moderated by gender or activity status. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that HR explained additional variance in VO2max when added to the RPE (2%). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis also indicated that VO2max was significantly correlated with power output at sub-maximal RPE values of 13 and 15 (P < 0.01) in men and women. The addition of HRmax(pred) improved the accuracy of the prediction equation for men (P = 0.05) but not for women. The study confirmed the validity of estimating VO2max from perceptually-regulated, sub-maximal GXT and indicated the potential utility of regression analysis to gauge appropriate sub-maximal exercise intensities.

The validity of predicting peak oxygen uptake from a perceptually guided graded exercise test during arm exercise in paraplegic individuals

“…It is possible that the participants' familiarity with regular exercise in this study may affect their ability to perceptually regulate specific intensities according to a given, prescribed RPE. In this regard, Faulkner et al, 10 observed that able-bodied, physically active individuals showed less variability in reproducing a given exercise intensity at prescribed RPEs across several trials.…”

“…7,8,10 This might be attributed to the lower mechanical efficiency during arm cranking compared with leg cycling as a result of recruiting additional muscles for stabilizing the torso and from static work of some muscle groups, which do not contribute to the external work rate. 19,20 In conclusion, this study has shown a very strong linear relationship between the RPE and .…”

“…VO 2 peak from RPEs 9 to 15 (t (10) ¼ 0.6, P ¼ 0.583) and from RPEs 9 to 17 (t (10) ¼ 0.5, P ¼ 0.633), but the difference approached significance from RPEs 9 to 13 (t (10) ¼ 2.2, P ¼ 0.054) during the first perceptually guided Figure 1 . VO 2 values elicited at RPEs of 9, 11 and 13 extrapolated to RPE20 on the Borg 6-20 RPE scale to predict .…”

“…A similar analysis showed no significant difference between measured and predicted . VO 2 peak from RPEs 9 to 13 (t (10) ¼ 0.2, P ¼ 0.843), RPEs 9 to 15 (t (10) ¼ 0.3, P ¼ 0.781) and RPEs 9 to 17 (t (10) ¼ 0.4, P ¼ 0.687) when extrapolated to RPE20 during the second perceptually guided test.…”

“…VO 2 max has been assessed in healthy low-fit individuals, 8 across various exercise durations at each RPE level, 9 in low-fit and physically active individuals, 10 as well as in continuous and discontinuous protocols. 7,8,11,12 The prediction of .…”