Session Rating of Perceived Exertion Is a Valid Method to Monitor Intensity of Exercise in Adults with Acute Burn Injuries

Measuring exercise intensity for safety and to inform prescription in acute burn survivors, is challenging. This study aimed to assess the validity of adult patient end-of-workout rating of session perceived exertion (sRPE); and calculated training load (TL) (sRPE × session duration) as measures of exercise intensity. Secondly, the study aimed to compare clinician and patient perception of exercise effort during physiotherapist-led sessions. Repeated RPE data were collected every 5-min during two resistance exercise sessions completed by 25 burns patients. Physiological (heart rate [HR], blood lactate [BLa]) and perceptual measures (sRPE, ratings of pain, fatigue, delayed onset muscle soreness, sleep quality and stress) were also captured. Adjusted, multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the associations between sRPE and TL and significant predictor variables. Paired <i>t</i>-tests were performed to compare clinician and participant sRPE. Results: Average RPE calculated from 5-min repeats, after adjustment for age and %TBSA, was significantly associated with sRPE, <i>F</i>(1, 45) = 100.82, (<i>p</i> < 0.001, adjusted <i>R</i>² = 0.64) and TL, <i>F</i>(1, 45) = 33.66, (<i>p</i> < 0.001, adjusted <i>R</i>² = 0.39). No significant differences between patient and clinician sRPE were apparent (<i>p</i> = 0.948). Thus, one-off reporting of sRPE and calculated TL may be appropriate markers to monitor exercise intensity and aid prescription in individuals with burn injuries, regardless of patient and burn characteristics or time since burn. There was also no difference between patient and clinician's perceptions of exercise effort.