A new rating scale of perceived exertion based on subjective estimation ofexhaustion time: A preliminary study

Perceived exertion has been investigated during incremental exercise to exh austion with athletes, according to the 6-20 scale proposed by Borg (RPE, 1 970) and a new scale based on the estimation of exhaustion time (t(lim)) (E stimated Time Limit or ETL, from 1 to 20; ETL=21 - 2 n, with n = log(2)t(li m)). ETL increased linearly with the percentage of maximal aerobic power (% MAP) up to the ventilatory threshold (VT). Beyond VT, an inflection of the ETL-%MAP relationship was observed. RPE and ETL calculated at VT were equal to 15 +/- 1.7, i.e. an exercise intensity perceived as "hard", and 10 +/-: 2.3, i.e. an estimated exhaustion time equal approximately to 45 minutes. S tandard deviations for RPE and ETL at VT were too large for an accurate est imation of this threshold. The results of the present study suggest that RP E and ETL should be used in addition to physiological data, but not replace them in the prescription of a training program.