Comparison between the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Category Ratio Scale (CR-10) for the Evaluation of Leg Exertion

Abstract

Perceptual ratings given on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Category Ratio Scale (CR-10) were compared in 24 healthy male volunteers (18-39 years) subjected to an exercise test using a bicycle ergometer. Ratings of leg exertion were made by means of the CR-10, the VAS and, as a complementary measure, the method of free magnitude estimation (ME). Blood lactate levels (BL) and heart rates (HR) were used as correlates to sensory perception. The correlation between the CR-10 ratings and BL at 180 W were .59 (p less than .01), and between VAS ratings and BL .45 (p less than .05). The corresponding correlations with HR were .64 (p less than 0.01) and .58 (p less than 0.01), respectively. No significant correlation was found for ME. It was concluded that both the CR-10 and the VAS scales were found to be useful for the psychophysical estimation of perceptual intensities. The CR-10 scale appeared to be slightly more efficient than the VAS and both these methods much better than ME. The advantage of the CR-10 scale might be due to a greater ability to discriminate at high intensity levels.