REGULATING EXERCISE INTENSITY USING RATINGS OF PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING ARM AND LEG ERGOMETRY

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the validity of regul ating exercise intensity using ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) du ring arm crank and leg cycle exercise at 50 and 70% peak oxygen consum ption ((V) over dot O-2peak) Ten men and seven women [26 (1) years old ; mean (SE)] participated in this study. Each subject completed a maxi mal estimation trial and two submaximal exercise bouts (production tri als) on both an arm and leg ergometer. During each maximal estimation trial, subjects were asked to give a RPE for each stage of the exercis e. RPEs, heart rates (HR), and power outputs (PO) equivalent to 50 and 70% (V) over dot O-2peak for each exercise mode were then estimated f rom plots of RPE versus oxygen consumption ((V) over dot O-2), HR vers us (V) over dot O-2, and PO versus (V) over dot O-2 respectively. Duri ng the submaximal trials, subjects were instructed to select workloads on an arm and leg ergometer that produced the previously estimated RP Es. Comparisons were made for (V) over dot O-2, HR, and PO between the estimation and production trials for each mode at each exercise inten sity. HR did not differ between the trials at either 50 or 70% (V) ove r dot O-2peak during arm and leg ergometry. In addition, (V) over dot O-2 and PO did not differ between the trials at either 50 or 70% (V) o ver dot O-2peak during arm ergometry and at 50% (V) over dot O-2peak d uring leg ergometry. However, these two parameters were lower (P < 0.0 5) during the production trial [1.88(0.15) 1 min(-1) and 89.1 (10.1)W, respectively] as compared to the estimation trial [2.08(0.14)1 min(-1 ) and 102.4 (6.5)W, respectively] during leg ergometry at 70% (V) over dot O-2peak In conclusion, using RPEs to regulate exercise intensity is physiologically valid during arm ergometry at both 50 and 70% (V) o ver dot O-2peak and during leg ergometry at 50% (V) over dot O-2peak H owever, this prescriptive approach remains questionable during leg cyc le exercise at 70% (V) over dot O-2peak.