Perceived exertion responses to wheelchair propulsion differ between novice able-bodied and trained wheelchair sportspeople

Objectives: To investigate peripheral (RPEP) and central (RPEC) rating of perceived exertion during wheelchair propulsion in untrained able-bodied (AB) participants, and trained wheelchair rugby athletes with and without cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: 38 participants (AB: n = 20; wheelchair rugby athletes with CSCI: n = 9; without CSCI: n = 9) completed an incremental wheelchair propulsion test to exhaustion on a motorised treadmill. Gas exchange measures and heart rate (HR) were collected throughout. RPEP and RPEC on the Category Ratio-10 were verbally recorded each minute. Blood lactate concentration ([BLa]) was determined post-test.Results: Between 50-100% peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), RPEP was greater than RPEC in AB (p Conclusion: RPEP was dominant over RPEC during wheelchair propulsion for untrained AB participants. For athletes with CSCI, lower RPEP and RPEC were reported at the same %V̇O2peak compared to those without CSCI. The mechanism for this remains to be fully elucidated.</div