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The purposes of this investigation were to identify a zone of normality for ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and to compare the RPE responses in patients with coronary artery disease to this zone. The zone was generated from RPE estimated during the last minute of each stage of a Bruce treadmill test in 44 normal adult men. RPE were regressed against the corresponding MET level for each exercise stage. The zone was established as the 95% confidence interval (CI) spanning the average RPE vs MET regression line. RPE estimated during the last 1.0 min. of a Bruce or Modified Balke treadmill test administered to adult men (n = 37) with coronary artery disease were compared to the 95% CI zone. A total of 19 (51%) of the coronary artery disease patients estimated RPE during a progressively incremented treadmill test that were above the zone, indicating a comparatively greater than normal perception of strain for a given metabolic stress. The presently generated zone provides a practical use of RPE in the interpretation of clinical exercise tests.

This investigation identified a perceptually-based "warning zone" that can be used to anticipate termination of treadmill tests administered to individuals taking beta-blockers. The use of ratings of perceived exertion to anticipate test termination may be valuable given the attenuation of heart rate associated with the use of this class of medication. Sixteen men with coronary artery disease participated in this investigation. Ratings of perceived exertion (Borg 6-20 Scale) were estimated during the last 15 sec. of each minute of a progressively incremented treadmill test. Tests were terminated when participants indicated they were too fatigued to continue. The time-to-test termination was determined from the point that participants estimated a rating of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 in order to determine the rating that was less than or equal to the time associated with a single exercise stage. A rating of 14 was associated with impending termination, which can be used as a "warning zone." The time to termination corresponding to a rating of 14 was 153.1 sec. (SD = 27.0). Participants exercised for 153.1 sec. (SE=27.0) after estimating a rating of 14. Once a rating of 14 is reached, volitional test termination will occur before the next exercise stage is completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to identify a perceptually based warning zone to anticipate termination of Bruce treadmill tests. Apparently healthy adult women (n = 116) and men (n = 55) participated. The time to test termination was measured from the point during the treadmill test at which participants estimated a rating of perceived exertion of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 using the Borg 6-20 scale to specify the rating of perceived exertion which was less than or equal to one exercise test stage. Women exercised for 141.9 ± 99.2 sec. after reporting a rating of perceived exertion of 14. Men terminated the treadmill test 120.1 ± 80.0 sec. after estimating their rating of perceived exertion to be 15, indicating volitional test termination will occur before the next exercise stage is completed. Accurate and timely prediction of test termination using ratings of perceived exertion may enhance the safety of exercise tests administered to apparently healthy adults and facilitate obtaining endpoint measures upon which to prescribe exercise intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were to identify a zone of normality based upon ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and compare the RPE of women with coronary artery disease to this zone. 45 healthy women (34.8 ± 9.1 yr.) completed a Bruce treadmill test. RPE were estimated during the last minute of each workload. The zone of normality was established as the 95% confidence interval spanning the average line when RPE was regressed against MET. 51 women (66.6 ± 9.3 yr.) with coronary artery disease completed a symptom-limited treadmill test. 31 of the women with coronary artery disease were taking beta blockers. RIPE were compared to the RIPE/MET relation of the zone. 57% of the women with coronary artery disease estimated RIPE above the zone during the treadmill test. RPE responses above the zone of normality indicate an elevated perceptual strain for a given energy expenditure (i.e., MET). The zone of normality might be used as an aid in discriminating between normal and abnormal RPE responses during graded treadmill tests by women with coronary artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]