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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Comparing the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in a Novel In Vivo Exposure System
Published on: May 24, 2017
Comparison of perceived exertion ratings during graded peak cycle exercise between cigarette smokers and nonsmokers
Kathryn A Tessmer1, Randall F Gearhart, M Daniel Becque
1Department of Human Performance and Exercise Science, Youngstown State University, 307-D Beeghly Center, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA. katessmer@ysu.edu
Abstract:
This study compared differentiated Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) for the chest (RPE-Chest) and legs (RPE-Legs) and undifferentiated ratings (RPE-Overall) between cigarette smokers (n = 10) and nonsmokers (n = 10) during graded, peak cycle exercise. Linear regression analyses expressed RPE-Chest, RPE-Leg, and RPE-Overall as a function of VO2 for smokers and nonsmokers. RPE equivalent to 50, 70, and 90% VO2 peak were compared between. Chest, Leg, and Overall RPE were similar at each % VO2 peak. In the combined smokers and nonsmokers, RPE-Chest was lower (p < .05) than the RPE-Overall at each % VO2 peak. RPE-Leg did not differ from RPE-Overall at 50% VO2 peak, but was higher (p < .05) at 70% and 90% VO2 peak. These results validate Assumption 4 for application of the Borg 15-category scale in that this assumption is also valid for differentiated RPE. Smoking did not influence the intensity of differentiated or undifferentiated RPE during graded cycle exercise.
