Peak oxygen uptake measured during a perceptually-regulated exercise test is reliable in community-based manual wheelchair users.

This study compares test-retest reliability and peak exercise responses from ramp-incremented (RAMP) and maximal perceptually-regulated (PRET) exercise tests during arm crank exercise in individuals reliant on manual wheelchair propulsion (MWP). Ten untrained participants completed four trials over 2-weeks (two RAMP (0-40 W + 5-10 W · min) trials and two PRET. PRET consisted of five, 2-min stages performed at Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) 11, 13, 15, 17 and 20). Participants freely changed the power output to match the required RPE. Gas exchange variables, heart rate, power output, RPE and affect were determined throughout trials. The V̇O from RAMP (14.8 ± 5.5 ml · kg · min) and PRET (13.9 ± 5.2 ml · kg · min) trials were not different (P = 0.08). Measurement error was 1.7 and 2.2 ml · kg · min and coefficient of variation 5.9% and 8.1% for measuring V̇O from RAMP and PRET, respectively. Affect was more positive at RPE 13 (P = 0.02), 15 (P = 0.01) and 17 (P = 0.01) during PRET. Findings suggest that PRET can be used to measure V̇O in participants reliant on MWP and leads to a more positive affective response compared to RAMP.