Effects of Blood Glucose Concentration on Ratings of Perceived Exertion during Prolonged Low-Intensity Physical Exercise.

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between blood glucose concentration and perceived exertion during prolonged low-intensity exercise. After a 12-h overnight fast, seven young healthy males began bicycle exercise from 0800 h at 50% Vo2max. One hour after initiation of the exercise, 20% glucose was infused by means of an infusion pump, to maintain blood glucose concentration at a level of approximately 6.5 mM for 20 min. This was followed by 20 min of sham infusion (no glucose). This 40-min cycle was repeated until 220 min of exercise. During the first 120 min of exercise, the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) increased gradually without any effects of the glucose infusion. Thereafter, RPE tended to decrease during glucose infusion, and finally showed a significant decrease from 180 (17 +/- 2) to 190 (16 +/- 2) min. This result showed that an increase in blood glucose concentration has a significant effect on perceived exertion, even if exercise time is prolonged. The different responses of RPE during the two phases of the exercise may be explained by the difference of glycogen concentration in muscle, because glucose infusion had no effect on RPE when muscle glycogen content was presumed to be at normal level, and was effective when glycogen in the exercising muscles was presumed to be depleted.