Biomaterial Database

Reliability of perceived exertion during graded exercise testing in apparently healthy adults. 1997

M H Whaley, and T Woodall, and L A Kaminsky, and J D Emmett

Adult Physical Fitness Programs Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306, USA.

OBJECTIVE Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are widely used for monitoring individuals during graded exercise testing. Studies of the reliability of RPEs across various exercise conditions have produced mixed results. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of RPEs during graded exercise testing by comparing the perceptual-physiological relationship between the Bruce and Balke treadmill protocols throughout a broad range of relative exercise intensities. METHODS Thirty-eight middle-aged men and women completed two maximal treadmill graded exercise testing separated by 48 hours. Test order was randomly assigned. RPEs were compared across protocols and between gender at selected exercise intensities using a series of two-way analysis of variances with repeated measures. RESULTS A comparison of RPEs (Borg 15-point scale) during the graded exercise testing revealed significant protocol and gender differences at 40%, 60% and 80% of maximal heart rate reserve. RPEs were significantly higher during the Balke protocol compared to the Bruce at each intensity (45% = 9.5 +/- 2.0 vs. 8.3 +/- 1.6; 60% = 12.7 +/- 2.4 vs. 11.1 +/- 2.3; 80% = 15.7 +/- 2.2 vs. 14.1 +/- 2.0). In addition, men rated each intensity significantly higher than the women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results from the present study confirm that the perceptual-physiological relationship observed during graded exercise testing varies as a function of the treadmill protocol employed and that these differences extend throughout the exercise training intensity range (40--80% of maximal heart rate reserve) recommended for healthy adults. The perceptual differences between the protocols could not be accounted for by any of the physiological measures assessed within the study. These results have implications when using RPEs from exercise testing for exercise prescription purposes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D012129	Respiratory Function Tests	Measurement of the various processes involved in the act of respiration: inspiration, expiration, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, lung volume and compliance, etc.	Lung Function Tests,Pulmonary Function Tests,Function Test, Pulmonary,Function Tests, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Function Test,Test, Pulmonary Function,Tests, Pulmonary Function,Function Test, Lung,Function Test, Respiratory,Function Tests, Lung,Function Tests, Respiratory,Lung Function Test,Respiratory Function Test,Test, Lung Function,Test, Respiratory Function,Tests, Lung Function,Tests, Respiratory Function
D005080	Exercise Test	Controlled physical activity which is performed in order to allow assessment of physiological functions, particularly cardiovascular and pulmonary, but also aerobic capacity. Maximal (most intense) exercise is usually required but submaximal exercise is also used.	Arm Ergometry Test,Bicycle Ergometry Test,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing,Exercise Testing,Step Test,Stress Test,Treadmill Test,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test,EuroFit Tests,Eurofit Test Battery,European Fitness Testing Battery,Fitness Testing,Physical Fitness Testing,Arm Ergometry Tests,Bicycle Ergometry Tests,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests,Ergometry Test, Arm,Ergometry Test, Bicycle,Ergometry Tests, Arm,Ergometry Tests, Bicycle,EuroFit Test,Eurofit Test Batteries,Exercise Test, Cardiopulmonary,Exercise Testing, Cardiopulmonary,Exercise Tests,Exercise Tests, Cardiopulmonary,Fitness Testing, Physical,Fitness Testings,Step Tests,Stress Tests,Test Battery, Eurofit,Test, Arm Ergometry,Test, Bicycle Ergometry,Test, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Test, EuroFit,Test, Exercise,Test, Step,Test, Stress,Test, Treadmill,Testing, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Testing, Exercise,Testing, Fitness,Testing, Physical Fitness,Tests, Arm Ergometry,Tests, Bicycle Ergometry,Tests, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Tests, EuroFit,Tests, Exercise,Tests, Step,Tests, Stress,Tests, Treadmill,Treadmill Tests
D005082	Physical Exertion	Expenditure of energy during PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Intensity of exertion may be measured by rate of OXYGEN CONSUMPTION; HEAT produced, or HEART RATE. Perceived exertion, a psychological measure of exertion, is included.	Physical Effort,Effort, Physical,Efforts, Physical,Exertion, Physical,Exertions, Physical,Physical Efforts,Physical Exertions
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age