A comparison of the impacts of continuous and interval cycle exercise on perceived exertion

Abstract

Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were developed to assess exertion during exercise testing. However, assessments of RPE prior to and after exercise have become common and potentially important in understanding exercise behaviour. The purpose of this project was to compare RPE taken before, during and after interval and continuous exercise sessions. Twenty-four participants (12 men, 12 women, body mass index = 24, VO2peak = 41 mL · kg · min(-1)) completed a maximal cycle ergometer test used to prescribe experimental trials: (1) moderate continuous (MC), (2) vigorous continuous (VC), (3) vigorous interval and (4) severe interval. All trials were 20 minutes in length and all intervals utilised 60-second segments and a 1:1 work-to-rest ratio. Predicted exertion was highest in the continuous vigorous trial (p < .05). Exertion increased from beginning to end in all trials (p < .05). Session RPE values were highest for the continuous vigorous trial (p < .05). Findings suggest that interval protocols produce perceptions of effort that are lower than VC exercise but similar to MC exercise. These results help describe the perceptions of effort associated with continuous and interval exercise and suggest that interval exercise can be performed with lower perceived work, which may encourage increased participation.

Psychophysiological Responses to High-Intensity Interval Training Exercise over Menstrual Cycle Phases: An Exploratory Study

“…Enjoyment and affective valence decreased significantly, and HR increased significantly during exercise in all sessions with a significant effect of menstrual cycle phase. These results partially corroborate earlier research that observed a comparable association between an increase in exertion and HR, coupled with a reduction in affective responses within the context of both HIIT (12,16) and continuous exercise (13,28).…”

“…HIIT can be defined and utilized in numerous ways but is characterized by repeated, brief exposures to nearmaximal exercise followed by passive or active recovery periods at very low intensities (10). Studies have demonstrated that this approach promotes significant changes in fitness (9,10) and can positively impact affective responses and reduce perceived exertion (11,12). Although numerous studies have considered the physiological and psychological implications of HIIT, one other potentially important factor worthy of consideration is the menstrual cycle.…”