GENDER DIFFERENCES IN OXYGEN UPTAKE AT THREE PRODUCED LEVELS OF PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING STAIRSTEPPING EXERCISE 1221

Abstract

Oxygen uptake was determined in 10 men (25±2.0 yrs.; VO2max;39.7±1.5) and 10 women (25±2.0 yrs.; VO2 max31.9±1.5) during stair stepping (SS) exercise at 3 pre-determined levels of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg 15 pt. scale). Subjects performed an initial maximal exercise test to anchor the RPE scale. An intermittent SS test was then undertaken during which subjects produced (in random order) RPE's of 11 (light), 13 (somewhat hard), and 15 (hard). Each production trial was 6 min in duration separated by 15 min. ANOVA indicated significant RPE and gender main effects for VO2, but only an RPE main effect for%VO2 peak.Table VO2 and% VO2 peak were significantly higher (p<0.05) during exercise at RPE 15 vs RPE 11, RPE 15 vs RPE 13, and RPE 13 vs RPE 11. VO2 was greater for men than women at RPE 11, 13, and 15. However, mode specific% VO2 peak did not differ between gender at each of the three RPE's. For purposes of prescribing equivalent energy expenditure, women can exercise at intensities that produce a comparitively higher level of perceived exertion than men. Perceptually based exercise prescriptions based on% VO2 peak do not have to be gender specific.