Peoples, J. A., Robertson, R. J., Thompson, P. D., Millich, N. B., Goss, F. L., & Moyna, N. M. (1997). Cross-modal comparison of percent peak oxygen uptake at fixed levels of perceived exertion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(5), Supplement abstract 1223.

%VO2peak was measured in men (N = 10) and women (N = 10) during treadmill, stair stepping, and cycle ergometer exercise at three fixed ratings of perceived exertion (11, 13, 15 on Borg's 15-point scale).

For each mode of exercise, Ss performed a maximal test to anchor the RPE scale. RPEs were then estimated during each stage of a mode specific exercise test.

• At a given RPE, %VO2peak was significantly higher for treadmill running than cycling and stair-stepping exercise was higher than cycling.
• At RPEs of 11 and 13, %VO2peak was significantly higher in treadmill running than stair-stepping exercise.
• At RPEs of 15 there was no significant difference in %VO2peak between treadmill running and stair-stepping exercise.
• There were no gender differences for %VO2peak attained at a fixed RPE in any exercise modality.

Implication. It is only appropriate to compare RPEs within the same exercise.

RPEs can be used intra-modally but should not be applied cross modally, that is, a 15 rating can be determined to be higher than a 13 rating in treadmill running, but that 15 rating is not equivalent to a 15 rating in cycling.

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