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

STUDY DESIGN: Each participant completed two submaximal, perceptually guided arm crank exercise tests and a graded exercise test (GXT) to volitional exhaustion. OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of a submaximal, perceptually guided exercise test to predict peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak) during arm cranking in paraplegic individuals. SETTING: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven men with paraplegia as a result of poliomyelitis infection or spinal cord injury completed two submaximal perceptually guided exercise tests and an arm crank GXT to volitional exhaustion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prediction of VO(2)peak was calculated by extrapolating the submaximal rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and VO(2) values by linear regression to RPE20. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between measured and predicted VO(2)peak from the three submaximal ranges of the RPE (that is, 9-13, 9-15 and 9-17) when extrapolated to RPE20 during both perceptually guided exercise tests (all P>0.05). However, the second perceptually guided exercise tests provided a more accurate prediction of VO(2)peak as reflected by narrower 95% limits of agreement and higher intraclass correlation coefficients. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that VO(2)peak may be predicted with reasonable accuracy from a perceptually guided exercise test, especially after a full familiarization trial.

Prediction of peak oxygen uptake from ratings of perceived exertion during arm exercise in able-bodied and persons with poliomyelitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Each participant completed an arm-crank ramp exercise test to volitional exhaustion. OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to predict peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak) during arm ergometry in able-bodied participants and those with poliomyelitis. SETTING: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. PARTICIPANTS: In all, 16 able-bodied and 15 participants with poliomyelitis completed an arm-crank ramp exercise test to volitional exhaustion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prediction of VO(2)peak is calculated by extrapolating the sub-maximal RPE and VO(2) values by linear regression to RPE 20. RESULTS: For the able-bodied participants, there were no significant differences between measured and predicted VO(2)peak from the three sub-maximal ranges of the RPE (RPEs before and including RPE 13, 15 and 17, P > 0.05). For the participants with poliomyelitis, the VO(2)peak predicted from RPEs before and including RPE 13 was significantly higher than measured VO(2)max (P < 0.05). The 95% limits of agreement of able-bodied participants for RPE 13, 15 and 17 (-3 ± 14, -1 ± 10 & 0 ± 8 ml kg(-1) min(-1), respectively) were lower than those observed for poliomyelitis participants (6 ± 19, 2 ± 12 and 1 ± 9 ml kg(-1) min(-1), respectively). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the estimation of VO(2)peak from submaximal RPE during arm ergometry is generally more accurate in able-bodied participants in comparison with those with poliomyelitis.