Quantification of the intensity of sensations during muscular work
by normal subjects.
Hamilton, Alan L., Kieran J. Killian, Edie Summers, and Norman L.
Jones.
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, McMASTER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE,
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, L8N 3Z5
APStracts 3:0185A, 1996.
Eleven subjects performed a series of 30 second work bouts on a cycle
ergometer at power outputs ranging from 20-120% of the work capacity
(Wcap) achieved during an incremental cycle to exhaustion, and
estimated the intensity of several sensations (leg effort, muscle
tension, muscle discomfort and muscle pain and breathing discomfort)
using Borg's category-ratio scale (0-10 unit range). Leg effort was
perceived as "just noticeable" at 31 +/- 15 %Wcap, muscle
tension was just noticeable at 31 +/- 16 %Wcap, muscle discomfort was
just noticeable at 47 +/- 21 %Wcap, breathing discomfort was just
noticeable at 52 +/- 19 %Wcap, and muscle pain was just noticeable at
58 +/- 33 %Wcap. The intensity of all sensations increased in a
positively accelerating manner with increases in power output
(p<0.001). Above 60%Wcap, the intensity of leg effort and muscle
tension exceeded the intensity of muscle pain (p<0.01), and
above 100%Wcap, the intensity of muscle discomfort also exceeded the
intensity of muscle pain (p<0.01). At 120%Wcap, leg effort,
muscle tension and muscle discomfort were rated between
"severe" and "very severe" (6.1 +/- 2.2, 6.4 +/- 2.0,
and 5.6 +/- 2.1 Borg units respectively), while muscle pain and
breathing discomfort were rated between "moderate" and
"somewhat severe" (3.6 +/- 2.1 and 3.3 +/- 1.9 Borg units
respectively). These results suggest that subjects have a perception
of muscle pain during muscular work which is distinct from
perceptions of leg effort, muscle tension and muscle discomfort.
Received 21 February 1995; accepted in final form 2 April 1996.
APS Manuscript Number A200-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 16 April 96