The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scales are used to quantify and prescribe an intensity of exercise and physical activity. Its use in stroke is widespread but its reliability can be questioned by multiple problems inherent to stroke such as cognitive disorders. The objective was to evaluate the reliability of RPE by the BORG scale (6–20) on a task of displacement and climbing/descending stairs in a population of stroke survivors.

All subjects with a history of stroke followed in the PMR department of the Limoges University Hospital were recruited. Subjects with cognitive impairments not permitting the use of the Borg scale were excluded. Participants were required to perform a 6-minute of displacement (6MD) at their self-comfort speed, with their usual mode of ambulation, and for the subjects in capacity, a climb and descent of a staircase. The total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured by a portable respiratory gas analyzer (Metamax3B). The RPE was assessed at the end of the tasks by the Borg scale (6–20). A correlation analysis was performed between the TEE values and RPE.

Forty-six subjects aged 65.2 years (±13.7) were included. The TEE/min averaged 5.6kcal/min (DS=1.2kcal/min) for the displacement task and 9.58kcal/min (DS=4.3kcal/min) for the descent stairs. The RPE averaged 10.6 (min 6–max 15) for the 6MD and 11.1 (min 6–max 16) for the task of stairs. No correlation was found between the BORG and the TEE/min, whether for the task of D6M or stairs (r6MD=−0.03, P=0.8, rstairs=−0.02, P=0.7). In addition, there was no significant variation between the RPE of 6MD and that of the stairs, while TEE/min showed a 70% increase between displacement and stairs (P<0.001).

Despite varying levels of effort intensity, no correlation was found between RPE and the TEE on a task of walking and a task of climbing and descending the stairs in a cohort of stoke survivors.