Use Of Rating Of Perceived Exertion In A Remote Mind-body Exercise Program In Older Adults With Chronic Pain

Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is widely used to monitor physical exertion in exercise testing and prescription. Recently, RPE has been adopted as a measure to monitor exercise intensity in mind-body exercise interventions, specifically compared to a physical exercise control group. PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of Borg 0-10 RPE scale in a remote mind-body exercise program in older adults with chronic pain. METHODS: Thirty-two community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) with multisite pain who reported falling in the previous year or using an assistive device were assigned to light physical exercise (stretching and light strength exercises, n = 11) or mind-body exercise (Tai Chi, n = 21), each offered via zoom twice weekly for 4 weeks. The exercise protocol consisted of a warm up, practicing light exercise or Tai Chi with two breaks for socialization, followed by a cool down and wrap up. Participants were trained on using the Borg 0-10 RPE scale. RPE values were collected after the two exercise segments during each exercise class. Student t-tests were used to assess differences between groups. RESULTS: Of the 32 participants, 24 (n = 9 for light exercise and n = 15 for Tai Chi) completed the program, reporting no adverse events. Comparing the 2 interventions, participants reported no differences in RPE values following the first exercise segment (light exercise: 2.30 ± 1.29, Tai Chi: 2.80 ± 0.65, p = 0.22) and the second exercise segment (light exercise: 2.75 ± 1.07, Tai Chi: 2.86 ± 0.40, p = 0.72) and in average RPE (light exercise: 2.52 ± 1.13, Tai Chi: 2.82 ± 0.51, p = 0.38). CONCLUSION: The Borg 0-10 RPE scale is appropriate for monitoring physical exertion in a Tai Chi intervention with a physical exercise control group. Future studies need to further evaluate the independent effect of meditation on perceived exertion during exercise. Supported by NIH Grant R56AG062737