Abstract
This study examined patterns of responses for physiological and perceptual variables during cycle ergometry at a constant rate of perceived exertion (RPE) within the moderate and heavy exercise intensity domains. Nineteen (mean age 21.3 ± 0.5 years; 43.4 ± 2.0 mL·kg−1·min−1 V ˙ O 2 Peak ) moderately trained cyclists performed an incremental test to exhaustion and two 60 min constant RPE rides at the RPE corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (RPEGET) and 15% above the GET (RPEGET+15%). Oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation ( V ˙ E ), breathing frequency ( ℱ b ), and power output (PO) were monitored throughout the rides. Polynomial regression analyses showed V ˙ O2, RER, HR, and V ˙ E (correlation = −0.85 to −0.98) tracked the decreases in PO required to maintain a constant RPE. Only ℱ b tracked RPE during the moderate and heavy intensity rides. Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that V ˙ O2 during the 60 min rides at RPEGET was not different (p > 0.05) from V ˙ O2 at GET from the incremental test to exhaustion. Thus, monitoring intensity using an RPE associated with the GET is sustainable for up to 60 min of cycling exercise and a common mechanism may mediate ℱ b and the perception of effort during moderate and heavy intensity cycle ergometry.
Highlights
The gas exchange threshold (GET) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) have been used to demarcate the exercise intensity domains [1,2,3]
The mean O2 and power output (PO) values that corresponded to RPE corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (RPEGET) (RPE = 14 ± 0.5) and RPEGET+15%
O2 corresponding to GET from the incremental test to exhaustion was not significantly different from measured O2 across the 60 min ride at RPEGET
Summary
The gas exchange threshold (GET) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) have been used to demarcate the exercise intensity domains (moderate, heavy, or severe) [1,2,3]. During constant power output (PO), cycle ergometry within the moderate domain, oxygen consumption ( O2), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration ((La−)b) reach steady state within 3 min [1,3]. (La−)b appearance exceeds its rate of removal for the first 10–20 min reaches a steady state [1]. A number of studies have examined the physiological and perceptual responses during continuous, constant PO cycle ergometry [1,2,4,5] within both moderate and heavy exercise intensity domains
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