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Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) relates to how ‘hard’ or ‘easy’ an exercise feels. The Borg 6-20 RPE scale is the most widely used scale to estimate the overall, peripheral and central perception of effort. To date, there are a limited number of studies on the use and efficacy of perceived exertion in persons with spinal cord injury and/or disease. The findings from these studies are also equivocal. Therefore, the aims of this thesis were to assess: i) the relationship between the RPE and physical and physiological markers of exercise intensity during arm cranking exercise in able-bodied and individuals with spinal cord disease, ii) the efficacy of sub-maximal RPE values to predict peak oxygen uptake during arm cranking exercise in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals using different exercise protocols, iii) the scalar property of the RPE during arm cranking exercise in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals. To achieve these goals, the thesis has been broken down to a series of seven studies. In each of these studies, except study 6, a group of able-bodied and a group of paraplegic participants were recruited to asses these hypotheses. Paraplegic individuals had spinal cord injury with neurological levels at or below the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6) or flaccid paralysis as a result of poliomyelitis infection. These individuals were physically active and participated in sports like wheelchair basketball, weightlifting, wheelchair racing and table tennis at both professional and recreational levels. Able-bodied participants were healthy and free from pre-existing injuries and physically active but not arm-trained. There were strong relationships between the RPE and each of the physiological and physical indices of exercise intensity during arm cranking exercise regardless of group or gender. Peak oxygen uptake can be predicted with reasonable accuracy from sub-maximal oxygen uptake values elicited during a sub-maximal perceptually-guided, graded exercise test for paraplegic individuals but not for able-bodied participants. It has also been shown that peak oxygen uptake can be predicted from power output using the equation prescribed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM, 2006). Furthermore, for able-bodied participants using estimation procedures, a passive process in which an individual is asked to rate how ‘hard’ or ‘easy’ an exercise feels, the ramp exercise test provided more accurate prediction of peak oxygen uptake compared to the graded exercise test. For paraplegic persons using estimation procedures, the graded exercise test provided more accurate prediction of peak oxygen uptake compared to the ramp exercise test. Finally, the scalar property of the RPE (i.e., similar proportions of time at a given RPE) was evident during arm cranking exercise regardless of group. In conclusion, the prediction of peak oxygen uptake from sub-maximal exercise tests would provide a safer environment of exercise testing. In addition, using a sub-maximal protocol would make peak oxygen uptake more available for sedentary and clinical population compared to the graded exercise test to volitional exhaustion. Prediction of peak oxygen uptake from power output using the ACSM equation would make the estimation of peak oxygen uptake more available for large groups of people. Similar proportions of time were observed at a given RPE regardless of group or exercise intensity. The early RPE responses will give an indicator for how long a participant is going to exercise. This has important implications for rehabilitation settings. Based on the RPE responses the tester or the observer can increase or decrease the work rate to enable the participant to exercise for the desired duration.

This is a theoretical and exploratory study of the social construction of the lived experience I am calling "ableness."  Through the repetition of behaviors and practices performed by able-bodied people, the representation of the able body has come to appear natural and unconsciously taken for granted, as they do not have to think about their bodies in interaction with everyday objects. I argue that this able-bodied solipsism is heightened in advanced industrial societies where discourses and practices created by Human-Factors Engineering compile knowledge based on the assumption that the able body is the norm. This knowledge is then employed in the fabrication of everyday items. Through an examination of theoretical perspectives on impaired bodies, a history of human-factors engineering, and an ethnography of how able bodies interact with their everyday surroundings, I intend to uncover the assumptions underlying the social construction of "ableness" and able-bodied solipsism.

<p>Syftet med undersökningen var att försöka definiera vad sjömanseleverna i årskurs 2 och 3 på gymnasiet hade för framtidsplaner när det gällde fortsatt arbete till sjöss som matros, motorman. Dessutom undersöktes hur många som planerade att läsa vidare till sjökapten eller sjöingenjör, samt hur stort intresset av att söka arbete utomlands var bland eleverna. Undersökningen byggde på en kvantitativ metod där resultatet baserades på enkätsvar från fyra olika skolor och totalt 114 svarande elever. Intresset för att fortsätta arbeta som matros var något större än att arbeta som motorman. Majoriteten av de tillfrågade eleverna planerade vidare studier medan endast ett fåtal av de tillfrågade planerade att enbart fortsätta arbeta som matros och motorman. Närmare 80 % av de tillfrågade var intresserade av att söka arbete utomlands. Många av de tillfrågade planerade läsa vidare och frågan är hur branschen skall säkra tillväxten bland matroser och motormän i Sverige?</p> / <p>The purpose of this thesis has been to try and define future plans among merchant marine seamen students. Regarding work as able bodied seaman, oiler or to study to deck or engine officer. And also see the interest to apply for marine job positions outside Sweden for example in Norway. The thesis is based on a quantitative method where the result is based on an inquiry from four schools and answers from 114 students. The interest to continue working as able bodied seamen was higher than to continue working as oiler. The majority of the students planed deck or engine officer studies. Only a few of the students planed only to continue as able bodied seamen or oiler. Almost 80 % of the students answered they were interested to apply for marine job positions abroad. Many students planed further studies and the question is how the shipping business should secure the growth of Swedish merchant marine seamen?</p>

Syftet med undersökningen var att försöka definiera vad sjömanseleverna i årskurs 2 och 3 på gymnasiet hade för framtidsplaner när det gällde fortsatt arbete till sjöss som matros, motorman. Dessutom undersöktes hur många som planerade att läsa vidare till sjökapten eller sjöingenjör, samt hur stort intresset av att söka arbete utomlands var bland eleverna. Undersökningen byggde på en kvantitativ metod där resultatet baserades på enkätsvar från fyra olika skolor och totalt 114 svarande elever. Intresset för att fortsätta arbeta som matros var något större än att arbeta som motorman. Majoriteten av de tillfrågade eleverna planerade vidare studier medan endast ett fåtal av de tillfrågade planerade att enbart fortsätta arbeta som matros och motorman. Närmare 80 % av de tillfrågade var intresserade av att söka arbete utomlands. Många av de tillfrågade planerade läsa vidare och frågan är hur branschen skall säkra tillväxten bland matroser och motormän i Sverige? / The purpose of this thesis has been to try and define future plans among merchant marine seamen students. Regarding work as able bodied seaman, oiler or to study to deck or engine officer. And also see the interest to apply for marine job positions outside Sweden for example in Norway. The thesis is based on a quantitative method where the result is based on an inquiry from four schools and answers from 114 students. The interest to continue working as able bodied seamen was higher than to continue working as oiler. The majority of the students planed deck or engine officer studies. Only a few of the students planed only to continue as able bodied seamen or oiler. Almost 80 % of the students answered they were interested to apply for marine job positions abroad. Many students planed further studies and the question is how the shipping business should secure the growth of Swedish merchant marine seamen?