Perceptual responses to exercise

Abstract

The general purpose of the investigation was to identify some of those physiological parameters, taken individunlly and collectively, which account for the greatest variability in perceived exertion (RPE) responses during thirty minutes of bicycle ergometer exercise. The data from eight independent variables recorded at 5, 15 and 30 minutes during two conditions were submitted to forward selection multiple regression analyses. Six male students between the ages of 18 and 22 years rode during five trials. Three trials were performed under a neutral temperature condition (24°C) at 48, 60 and 68% of maxV̇O2. Two trials were performed under hot temperature conditions (44° and 54°C) at 48% of maxV̇O2. Ventilation (V̇E) accounted for the greatest variance in RPE at 5 and 15 minutes and respiratory rate (RR) made the greatest contribution at 30 minutes in both conditions. The independent variables accounted for more total variance in the heat at each time point (84, 84 and 77%) than in the neutral (66, 80 and 53%), Rectal and skin temperature (Tr and Ts) appear sooner and account for more variance in RPE in the heat than in the neutral environment. It was hypothesized that man does not directly attend to physiological processes, per se, as a basis for perceived exertion ratings but does attend to the externalization of these processes, i.e., increases in metabolic rate result in increases in V̇E, RR and Ts which can be directly perceived.