Report
Differentiated perceived exertion and self-regulated wheelchair exercise
This study aimed to investigate the utility of the differentiated rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for the self-regulation of submaximal wheelchair propulsion in novice users.
- Lead academic:
- Professor Vicky Tolfrey
- Funder:
- The Peter Harrison Foundation
Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) have previously been employed for prescription and self-regulation of exercise intensity across a range of exercise modalities, including treadmill exercise, cycling, arm-cranking, handcycling and wheelchair propulsion.
However, it is recognised that the strength of the perceptual signal is greater from the exercising limbs and joints (peripheral RPE) when compared to central signals of cardio-respiratory strain, such as heart rate and ventilation (central RPE), during submaximal wheelchair propulsion. The prescription and self-regulation of exercise may be enhanced in novice wheelchair users by using an RPE specific to the peripheral exertional signals experienced during hand-rim propulsion.
Methods
- 18 participants completed a sub-maximal incremental test and a graded test to exhaustion to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) on a wheelchair ergometer. On a separate day, each participant performed two 12-min intermittent bouts consisting of three 4-min stages at individualised imposed power outputs (PO) equating to ‘light’ (40% VO2peak) and ‘moderate’ (60%VO2peak) intensity exercise. On a third occasion, participants were assigned to either the overall group (n=9) or peripheral group (n=9) and were required to self-regulate 12-min intermittent exercise according to either overall or peripheral RPE reported during the corresponding imposed intensity trial.
Main findings and application
Peripheral RPE provided the dominant perceptual signal during submaximal wheelchair exercise. When self-regulating exercise based on perceptual exertional signals, peripheral RPE enabled a more precise self-regulation of moderate-intensity wheelchair exercise in a novice user group than overall RPE. In contrast, during light-intensity exercise, overall RPE provided a more accurate self-regulation tool and should be employed prior to familiarisation with differentiated RPE during light-intensity wheelchair propulsion training.
Reference
Paulson, T., Bishop, N., Eston, R. and Goosey-Tolfrey, V. (2013) Differentiated perceived exertion and selfregulated wheelchair exercise. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 94(11): 2269-2276. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2013.03.018