Ratings of Perceived Exertion Among Standard Treadmill Protocols and Steady State Running

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences exist in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at a predetermined relative heart rate between two standard treadmill protocols and steady state exercise in a field setting. Thirty healthy male (N = 15) and female (N = 15) volunteers were maximally tested using the standard Bruce and a modified Balke (3.0 mph with 2.5% grade each two minutes) protocols. Each subject was randomly assigned to one treadmill protocol first, and then completed the second test forty-eight hours later. Within forty-eight hours following the second treadmill test, all subjects completed a field exercise trial consisting of an 800-m run. During the field trial an investigator paced each subject to an individualized target heart rate (75% maximal heart rate reserve) calculated from the treadmill tests. The total exercise time for the field trial was 4:31 +/- 0:22 and 5:36 +/- 0:47 min for the males and females, respectively. During the last 50 m of the field trial, RPE values were recorded. Comparisons of the rating of perceived exertion at the target heart rate (RPE at THR) were made using a 2-way (Gender x Trials) ANOVA with repeated measures across trials. There was a significant gender x trials interaction for RPE at THR, with males reporting significantly higher values during the treadmill tests as compared to the females (BRUCE = 13.5 +/- 1.6 vs 12.2 +/- 1.8; BLAKE = 15.9 +/- 2.3 vs 13.7 +/- 2.4). There was no difference noted between genders for RPE at THR during the field trial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)