Report

Peak oxygen uptake from differentiated ratings of perceived exertion in wheelchair athletes

Can you predict peak oxygen uptake from differentiated ratings of perceived exertion in trained wheelchair sportspersons?

Lead academic:
Professor Vicky Tolfrey
Additional academics:
Dr Keith Tolfrey, Tom Paulson
Funder:
The Peter Harrison Foundation

During periods of high intensity training, it may not be possible for all wheelchair sportspersons to complete a test to volitional exhaustion due to their concerns with the aggravation of a previous injury.

For that reason, predicting VO2peak from submaximal bouts of exercise may be welcomed if a test has to be terminated early. This study therefore assessed the validity of predicting VO2peak from differentiated ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) obtained during submaximal wheelchair propulsion.

Methods

3 sub-groups of elite male wheelchair athletes (9 individuals with tetraplegia (TETRA); 9 with paraplegia (PARA); and 8 athletes without spinal cord injury (NON-SCI)) performed an incremental speed exercise test followed by graded exercise to exhaustion test (VO2peak) on a treadmill.

Main findings and applications

  • Differentiated RPE may be used cautiously for TETRA and PARA athletes when predicting VO2peak across the RPE perceptual range of 9 to 15.
  • It appears that central RPE and peripheral RPE mediate overall RPE similarly during wheelchair propulsion.
  • However, predicting VO2peak using these methods is not recommended for the NON-SCI athletes due to the large coefficients of variation (16.8, 20.2 and 18.0%; RPEC, RPEP and RPEO, respectively).

Reference

Goosey-Tolfrey, V., Paulson, T.A.W, Tolfrey, K. and Eston R.G. (2014). Prediction of peak oxygen uptake from differentiated ratings of perceived exertion during wheelchair propulsion in trained wheelchair sportspersons. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 114(6): 1251-1258. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-014-2850-9