Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of predicting maximal oxygen uptake \(\left( {\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} } \right)\) from sub-maximal \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\) values elicited during a perceptually-regulated exercise test. We hypothesised that the strong relationship between the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\) would enable \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}\) to be predicted and that this would improve with practice. Ten male volunteers performed a graded exercise test (GXT) to establish \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}\) followed by three sub-maximal RPE production protocols on a cycle ergometer, each separated by a period of 48 h. The perceptually-regulated trials were conducted at intensities of 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 on the RPE scale, in that order. \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\) and HR were measured continuously and recorded at the end of each 4 min stage. Individual’s RPE values yielded correlations in the range 0.92–0.99 across the three production trials. There were no significant differences between measured \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}\) (48.8 ml·kg−1·min−1) and predicted \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\) max values (47.3, 48.6 and 49.9 ml·kg−1·min−1, for trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively) when \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\) max was predicted from RPE values of 9–17. The same was observed when \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}\) was predicted using RPE 9–15. Limits of agreement (LoA) analysis on actual and predicted \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}\) values (from RPE 9–17) were (bias±1.96×SDdiff) 1.5±7.3, 0.2±4.9 and −1.2±5.8 ml·kg−1·min−1, for trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Corresponding LoA values for actual and predicted \(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}\) (from RPE 9–15) were 5.4±11.3, 4.4±8.7 and 2.3±8.4 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively. The data suggest that a sub-maximal, perceptually-guided, graded exercise protocol can provide acceptable estimates of maximal aerobic power, which are further improved with practice in fit young males.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American College of Sports Medicine (2000) Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 6th edn. Williams and Wilkins, Lippincott, Baltimore
American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand (1998) The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular strength and flexibility in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30:975–991
Bland JM, Altman DG (1986) Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet i:307–310
Borg GAV (1970) Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. Scand J Rehabil Med 2:92–98
Borg GAV (1973) Perceived exertion: a note on history and methods. Med Sci Sports 5:90–93
Borg G (1998) Borg’s perceived exertion and pain scales. Human Kinetics, Champaign
British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (1997) Physiological testing guidelines, 3rd edn. Leeds, UK
Buckley JP, Eston RG, Sim J, Larkin T (2000) Rating of perceived exertion in Braille: validity and reliability in production mode. Br J Sports Med 34:297–302
Buckley JP, Sim J, Eston RG, Hession R, Fox R (2004) Reliability and validity of measures taken during the Chester step test to predict aerobic power and prescribe aerobic exercise. Br J Sports Med 38:197–205
Byrne C, Eston RG (1998) Use of ratings of perceived exertion to regulate exercise intensity: a study using effort estimation and effort production (abstract). J Sports Sci 16:15–16
Ceci R, Hassmen P (1991) Self-monitored exercise at three different RPE intensities in treadmill vs field running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:732–738
Chow RJ, Wilmore JH (1984) The regulation of exercise intensity by ratings of perceived exertion. J Cardiac Rehab 4:382–397
Dishman RK (1994) Prescribing exercise intensity for healthy adults using perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26:1087–1094
Dunbar CC, Bursztyn DA (1996) The slope method for prescribing exercise with ratings of perceived exertion. Percept Mot Skills 83:91–97
Dunbar CC, Robertson RJ, Baun R, Blandin MF, Metz RK, Burdett R, Goss FL (1992) Validity of regulating exercise intensity by ratings of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:94–99
Dunbar CC, Goris CL, Michielli DW, Kalinski MI (1994) Accuracy and reproducibility of an exercise prescription based on ratings of perceived exertion for treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise. Percept Mot Skills 78:1335–1344
Eston RG, Connolly D (1996) Use of ratings of perceived exertion for exercise prescription in patients receiving beta-blocker therapy. Sports Med 21:176–190
Eston RG, Thompson M (1997) Use of ratings of perceived exertion for predicting maximal work rate and prescribing exercise intensity in patients taking atenolol. Br J Sports Med 31:114–119
Eston RG, Williams JG (1986) Exercise intensity and perceived exertion in adolescent boys. Br J Sports Med 20:27–30
Eston RG, Williams JG (1988) Reliability of ratings of perceived exertion for regulation of exercise intensity. Br J Sports Med 31:114–119
Eston RG, Williams JG (2001) In: Eston RG, Reilly T (eds) Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual: tests, procedures and data. In: Exercise physiology, vol 2, 2nd edn. Routledge, London, pp 213–234
Eston RG, Davies B, Williams JG (1987) Use of perceived effort ratings to control exercise intensity in young, healthy adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 56:222–224
Eston RG, Parfitt CG, Campbell L, Lamb KL (2000) Reliability of effort perception for regulating exercise intensity in children using the Cart and Load Effort Rating (CALER) Scale. Pediatr Exerc Sci 12:388–397
Glass S, Knowlton R, Becque MD (1992) Accuracy of RPE from graded exercise to establish exercise training intensity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:1303–1307
Hampson DB, St Clair Gibson A, Lambert MI, Noakes TD (2001) The influence of sensory cues on the perception of exertion during exercise and central regulation of exercise performance. Sports Med 31:935–952
Hartshorn JEO, Lamb KL (2004) The reproducibility of perceptually regulated exercise responses during short-term cycle ergometry. Int J Sports Med 25:362–367
Kang J, Chaloupka EC, Mastrangelo MA, Donnelly MS, Martz WP, Robertson RJ (1998) Regulating exercise intensity using ratings of perceived exertion during arm and leg ergometry. Eur J Appl Physiol 78:241–246
Kang J, Hoffman JR, Walker H, Chaloupka EC, Utter AC (2003) Regulating intensity using perceived exertion during extended exercise periods. Eur J Appl Physiol 89:475–482
Marriott HE, Lamb KL (1996) The use of ratings of perceived exertion for regulating exercise levels in rowing ergometry. Eur J Appl Physiol 72:267–271
Nevill AM, Atkinson G (1997) Assessing agreement between measurements recorded on a ratio scale in sports medicine and sports science. Br J Sports Med 31:314–318
Noakes TD (2004) Linear relationship between the perception of effort and the duration of constant load exercise that remains (Letter to the editor). J Appl Physiol 96:1571–1573
Noble B, Robertson R (1996) Perceived exertion. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Okura T, Tanaka K (2001) A unique method for predicting cardiorespiratory fitness using rating of perceived exertion. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci 20:255–261
Parfitt G, Eston RG, Connolly DA (1996) Psychological affect at different ratings of perceived exertion in high- and low-active women: a study using a production protocol. Percept Mot Skills 82:1035–1042
Robertson RJ, Goss FL, Bell JA, Dixon CB, Gallagher KI, Lagally KM, Timmer JM, Abt KL, Gallagher JD, Thompkins T (2002) Self-regulated cycling using the children’s OMNI Scale of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34:1168–1175
Skinner JS, Hutsler R, Bergsteinova V, Buskirk EK (1973) The validity and Reliabilty of a rating scale of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 5:94–96
Smutok MA, Skrinar GS, Pandolf KB (1980) Exercise intensity: subjective regulation by perceived exertion. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 61:569–574
Ward DS, Bar-Or O, Longmuir P, Smith K (1995) Use of RPE to control exercise intensity in wheelchair-bound children and adults. Pediatr Exerc Sci 7:94–102
Watt B, Grove R (1993) Perceived exertion: antecedents and applications. Sports Med 15:225–242
Weiser PC, Stamper DA (1977) Psychophysiological interactions leading to increased effort, leg fatigue and respiratory distress during prolonged strenuous bicycle riding. In: Borg G (ed) Physical work and effort. Pergamon Press, NewYork, pp 401–406
Williams JG, Eston RG (1989) Determination of the intensity dimension in vigorous exercise programmes with particular reference to the use of the Rating of Perceived Exertion. Sports Med 8:177–189
Williams JG, Eston RG, Stretch C (1991) Use of the Rating of Perceived Exertion to control exercise intensity in children. Pediatr Exerc Sci 3:21–27
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eston, R.G., Lamb, K.L., Parfitt, G. et al. The validity of predicting maximal oxygen uptake from a perceptually-regulated graded exercise test. Eur J Appl Physiol 94, 221–227 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1327-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1327-2