Reliability and Validity of Ratings of Perceived Exertion in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: To test the reliability and validity of using the Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale (ratings 6-20) in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Design: Nonrandomized repeated measures.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Participants: Volunteer sample (N=27) comprised of 16 PwMS (10 women) and 11 age-matched persons without multiple sclerosis (MS) (6 women). Clinical measures included symptomatic fatigue, depression, and MS functional capacity.

Interventions: A submaximal cycling test was performed to estimate maximal capacity. Participants then pedaled for 2 minutes at 50% and 60% of predicted maximal oxygen consumption per unit time (V˙o2), and physiological measures and RPE were obtained (week 1: response protocol). One week later, participants replicated the prescribed V˙o2 using the RPE range from week 1 (week 2: reproduction protocol). V˙o2, heart rate, and respiratory quotient were measured continuously; RPE and workload were measured every minute; and blood lactate and mean arterial pressure were measured after exercise.

Main Outcome Measures: RPE, workload, V˙o2, and heart rate from week 1 to week 2.

Results: PwMS had greater fatigue (P<.01) and disability (P<.001). Baseline measures were similar between groups and weeks. During exercise, RPE, workload, V˙o2, and heart rate were similar between groups. Both groups had an intraclass correlation coefficient >.86 for RPE, workload, and V˙o2. The intraclass correlation coefficient was comparatively lower for heart rate for both groups (MS group: .72, non-MS group: .83). RPE was highly correlated with V˙o2 (r=.691, P<.001) and workload (r=.700, P<.001) for the MS group.

Conclusions: Results suggest that RPE can be reliably reproduced, is valid, and may be used in exercise prescription in mildly to moderately impaired PwMS during cycling exercise.