PERCEIVED EXERTION AND HEART RATE DURING EXERCISE DO NOT DIFFER IN LIGHT AND DARK CONDITIONS

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to compare perceived exertion and heart rate responses of exercisers to 30 min of cycling conducted in the light and in the dark. METHOD: Sixteen individuals (10 men and 6 women) participated in three 30-min exercise sessions on a bicycle ergometer. Participants exercised at a constant resistance (400–600 kpm), and the initial session served as an orientation. The two subsequent experimental sessions were counterbalanced and consisted of a lighted condition (L) and a dark condition (D). During the L session participants exercised in a lighted (175 lux), sound-dampened (8 dB) chamber, at a temperature of 20°C (± 1.5°C). The D session was conducted in the same chamber without light (0 lux). Heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (Borg's 6–20 RPE Scale) for overall (OV), lower body (LB) and upper body (UB) were collected at 5-min intervals during each exercise session. RESULT: The results were analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA for multifactor experiments. HR, OV RPE and LB RPE all increased significantly across the 30-min session regardless of condition (p < .05), while UB RPE was not changed. There were no differences in HR, OV RPE, LB RPE, or UB RPE between L and D sessions at any time point (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The presence or absence of light does not significantly impact RPE or HR during cycle ergometry. Supported by a grant from the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, and a gift from the Donald and Diane Masterson Family.