Relationship Between Heart Rate and Perceived Exertion in Neuromuscular Diseases: How do Laboratory-Based Exercise Testing Results Translate to Home-Based Aerobic Training Sessions?

OBJECTIVE:To examine the heart rate-perceived exertion relationship between maximal exercise testing and home-based aerobic training in neuromuscular diseases. DESIGN:Multicentre randomized controlled trial, intervention group data. PARTICIPANTS:Individuals with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (n = 17), post-polio syndrome (n = 7) or other neuromuscular diseases (n = 6). METHODS:Participants followed a 4-month, homebased aerobic training programme guided by heart rate. Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion (6-20 Borg Scale) were assessed for each minute during a maximal exercise test, and at the end of each exercise interval and recovery period during training. Heart rate and corresponding ratings of perceived exertion values of individual participants during training were visualized using plots, together with the exercise testing linear regression line between heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion. RESULTS:High correlation coefficients (i.e. > 0.70) were found between heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion, in all participants during testing (n = 30), and in 57% of the participants during training. Based on the plots the following distribution was found; participants reporting lower (n = 12), similar (n = 10), or higher (n = 8) ratings of perceived exertion values for corresponding heart rates during training compared with testing. CONCLUSION:Most participants had a different perception of effort for corresponding heart rates during training in comparison with exercise testing. Healthcare professionals should be aware that this may imply under- and over-training.