title: The development of rating of perceived exertion-based tests of physical working capacity.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to use ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) from the Borg (6-20) and OMNI-Leg (0-10) scales to determine the Physical Working Capacity at the Borg and OMNI thresholds (PWC(BORG) and PWC(OMNI)). PWC(BORG) and PWC(OMNI) were compared with other fatigue thresholds determined from the measurement of heart rate (the Physical Working Capacity at the Heart Rate Threshold: PWC(HRT)), and oxygen consumption (the Physical Working Capacity at the Oxygen Consumption Threshold, PWC(VO2)), as well as the ventilatory threshold (VT). Fifteen men and women volunteers (mean age +/- SD = 22 +/- 1 years) performed an incremental test to exhaustion on an electronically braked ergometer for the determination of VO2 peak and VT. The subjects also performed 4 randomly ordered workbouts to exhaustion at different power outputs (ranging from 60 to 206W) for the determination of PWC(BORG), PWC(OMNI), PWC(HRT), and PWC(VO2). The results indicated that there were no significant mean differences among the fatigue thresholds: PWC(BORG) (mean +/- SD = 133 +/- 37W; 67 +/- 8% of VO2 peak), PWC(OMNI) (137 +/- 44W; 68 +/- 9% of VO2 peak), PWC(HRT) (135 +/- 36W; 68 +/- 8% of VO2 peak), PWC(VO2) (145 +/- 41W; 72 +/- 7% of VO2 peak) and VT (131 +/- 45W; 66 +/- 8% of VO2 peak). The results of this study indicated that the mathematical model used to estimate PWC(HRT) and PWC(VO2) can be applied to ratings of perceived exertion to determine PWC(BORG) and PWC(OMNI) during cycle ergometry. Salient features of the PWC(BORG) and PWC(OMNI) tests are that they are simple to administer and require the use of only an RPE scale, a stopwatch, and a cycle ergometer. Furthermore, the power outputs at the PWC(BORG) and PWC(OMNI) may be useful to estimate the VT noninvasively and without the need for expired gas analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Human Performance Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. mmielke@unlserve.unl.edu
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: Terry J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Housh
authors.forename: Moh H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Malek
authors.forename: Travis W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Glen O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity