Heart rate-perceived exertion relationship during training and taper

Background. Examine the heart rate-perceived exertion (HR-RPE) relationship under conditions of high-intensity training and taper. Methods. Experimental design and participants: prospective with collegiate cyclists (n=11) completed six weeks of high-intensity interval training, fo llowed by a one-week taper. Interventions: participants completed a high-in tensity training regimen along,vith graded exercise tests (GXT) throughout the training and the taper. Measures: heart rates (HR) and ratings of perce ived exertion (RPE) were recorded following each stage of the GXTs. Scores on GXTs were also recorded. Results. The HR-RPE relationship during GXTs changed over the course of the training with greater RPEs for a given HR at the end of the training compa red to the beginning. The most powerful predictors of the performance respo nse to the taper were training induced changes in the HR-RPE relationship a nd decreases in HR for a given power output. Those individuals who reported higher RPEs for lower HRs were more likely to have better performance resp onses to taper (r=0.72) as mere those who had larger changes in the HR-powe r output relationship (r=0.76). Conclusions. These results indicate that changes in the HR-RPE relationship during high-intensity training may be used to monitor the magnitude of ove rreaching that is necessary for a positive response to a taper. For coaches and athletes, the HR-RPE ratio may be a practical measure for monitoring a n aspect of fatigue associated with high-intensity training.