Background: Physical activity recommendations require accurate estimations of exercise intensity. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and talk test (TT) are 2 commonly recommended techniques to gauge intensity. It is not known whether these are valid to select an exercise intensity that would elicit a training effect for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Objective: To define the exercise intensity of each TT stage and RPE exercise intensity category and assess whether persons with paraplegia are able to use the TT to select a “comfortable” exercise workload they could maintain for 15 minutes. Methods: Twelve participants with paraplegia completed 2 arm crank exercise tests on nonconsecutive days within 14 days. Test 1 was an incremental peak effort assessment. Test 2 was a 15-minute simulated exercise session at a participant-selected fixed workload. During each test, participants reported their RPE and performed a TT at 2-minute intervals. Results: The intensity of the first negative TT stage was vigorous (75 ± 15 %VO2R); at low and moderate intensities, perceived effort was greater than measured intensity; at vigorous and maximal intensities, perceived effort matched measured intensity. Individuals successfully used the TT to select an exercise workload they could maintain for 15 minutes. RPE, but not exercise intensity, increased during the 15-minute session. Conclusions: During arm crank exercise when speaking is not comfortable (ie, first negative TT), persons with paraplegia are exercising at vigorous intensity, which is sufficient to elicit training effects. During incremental peak exercise testing, RPE does not appear to accurately index low-moderate exercise intensities. During the simulated exercise session, RPE appeared to index peripheral fatigue.

exercise, perceived exertion, spinal cord injury, talk test
2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. US Department of Health and Human Services. www.health.gov/paguidelines. Accessed May 5, 2011. www.health.gov/paguidelines
Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Spinal Cord Injury.SCI Action Canada. http://www.sciactioncanada.ca/guidelines/. Accessed April 11, 2008. http://www.sciactioncanada.ca/guidelines/
Ginis KA, Hicks AL, Latimer AE, et al. The development of evidence-informed physical activity guidelines for adults with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2011;49(11):1088-1096.
,
The development of evidence-informed physical activity guidelines for adults with spinal cord injury
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
49
(pg.
1088
-
1096
)
Lewis JE, Nash MS, Hamm LF, Martins SC, Groah SL. The relationship between perceived exertion and physiologic indicators of stress during graded arm exercise in persons with spinal cord injuries. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88(9):1205-1211.
,
The relationship between perceived exertion and physiologic indicators of stress during graded arm exercise in persons with spinal cord injuries
,
Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol.
88
(pg.
1205
-
1211
)
Goosey-Tolfrey V, Lenton J, Goddard J, Oldfield V, Tolfrey K, Eston R. Regulating intensity using perceived exertion in spinal cord-injured participants. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42(3):608-613.
,
Regulating intensity using perceived exertion in spinal cord-injured participants
,
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
, vol.
42
(pg.
608
-
613
)
Robergs RA, Ghiasvand F, Parker D. Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004;287(3):R502-16.
,
Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis
,
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol.
, vol.
287
(pg.
R502
-
16
)
Jones AM, Carter H. The effect of endurance training on parameters of aerobic fitness. Sports Med. 2000;29(6):373-386.
,
The effect of endurance training on parameters of aerobic fitness
,
Sports Med.
, vol.
29
(pg.
373
-
386
)
Wasserman, K, Hansen, JE, Sue, DY, Stringer, WW, Whipp, BJ. Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation: Including Pathophysiology and Clinical Application. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005.
,
Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation: Including Pathophysiology and Clinical Application
Hoppeler H, Weibel ER. Structural and functional limits for oxygen supply to muscle. Acta Physiol Scand. 2000;168(4):445-456.
,
Structural and functional limits for oxygen supply to muscle
,
Acta Physiol Scand.
, vol.
168
(pg.
445
-
456
)
Coutts KD, McKenzie DC. Ventilatory thresholds during wheelchair exercise in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Paraplegia. 1995;33(7):419-422.
,
Ventilatory thresholds during wheelchair exercise in individuals with spinal cord injuries
,
Paraplegia.
, vol.
33
(pg.
419
-
422
)
Persinger R, Foster C, Gibson M, Fater DC, Porcari JP. Consistency of the talk test for exercise prescription. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(9):1632-1636.
,
Consistency of the talk test for exercise prescription
,
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
, vol.
36
(pg.
1632
-
1636
)
Jeans EA, Foster C, Porcari JP, Gibson M, Doberstein S. Translation of exercise testing to exercise prescription using the talk test. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(3):590-596.
,
Translation of exercise testing to exercise prescription using the talk test
,
J Strength Cond Res.
, vol.
25
(pg.
590
-
596
)
Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(7):1334-1359.
,
American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise
,
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
, vol.
43
(pg.
1334
-
1359
)
This content is only available as a PDF.