Faculty Collaboration Database

Ratings of perceived exertion during aerobic exercise in multiple sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008 Aug;89(8):1570-4

Date

07/08/2008

Pubmed ID

18602083

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2007.12.036

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-48649093172 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   47 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) during aerobic exercise in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and control participants.

DESIGN: Prospective experimental study.

SETTING: An exercise testing laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS: Sedentary adults (n=12) with mild MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score < or = 3) aged 30 to 45 years and sedentary age-matched and sex-matched controls (n=12).

INTERVENTIONS: All participants underwent a graded aerobic exercise test on a cycle ergometer with breath-by-breath gas measurements and continuous heart rate monitoring.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After completing the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, participants rated their effort sense every 30 seconds during exercise using the modified Borg 10-point scale.

RESULTS: The 2 study groups showed similar baseline characteristics except for higher fatigue scores in the MS group. There were no significant differences for any fitness measure, including oxygen cost slope (in VO(2) x min(-1) x W(-1)), VO(2), or work rate during exercise. Neither heart rate nor RPE--measured at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of VO(2)peak--differed between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite greater reported fatigue levels, participants with MS showed similar RPE and physiologic responses to submaximal and maximal exercise compared with controls. In MS, the Borg 10-point scale may help improve evidence-based exercise prescriptions, which otherwise may be limited by fatigue, motor impairment, heat sensitivity, or autonomic dysfunction.

Author List

Morrison EH, Cooper DM, White LJ, Larson J, Leu SY, Zaldivar F, Ng AV

Author

Alexander V. Ng PhD Associate Professor in the Exercise Science department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Exercise
Female
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis
Oxygen Consumption
Pain Measurement
Physical Exertion