Resistance Exercise Prescription Using Rate Of Perceived Exertion In Exercise Oncology-a Novel Concept

Abstract

Currently, there exist general recommendations of physical activity for cancer population. Resistance Exercise (RE) recommendations are 2-3 days per week of 1-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions, at 60-70% 1RM of total body exercise. While these recommendations appear to be sufficient in an oncology setting, it could be argued that a generic prescription approach may very well be masking the full therapeutic potential of exercise. Consequently, there is a need to determine what dose, sequencing, combination, or indeed timing of exercise is not only effective, but optimal. Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) has been supported as a reliable method of quantifying resistance exercise intensity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of perceived exertion as a method of monitoring resistance exercise intensity in prostate cancer patients, and to discuss the utilization of RPE to adjust session intensity and ensure an appropriate training stimulus. METHODS: 30 male prostate cancer patients performed each intensity three times. The protocol included performing the leg extension and chest press. at 50%, 75%, and 90% of the participants 1 repetition maximum (1RM). RESULTS: A within-subjects repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference among the mean RPE values of each intensity for each lift. The 75% intensity RPE values were significantly higher than the 50% intensity(p<0.05) RPE values and the 90% intensity RPE values were significantly higher than the 50%(p<0.05) and 75%(p<0.05) intensity RPE values respectively. CONCLUSIONS: RPE may be a reliable method of monitoring RE intensity, and may be a valuable tool to adjust a training stimulus to account for daily fluctuations in readiness to train.