Session RPE During Prolonged Exercise Training

Abstract

Purpose: Although the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) is primarily a marker of internal training load (TL), it may be sensitive to external TL determining factors, such as duration and volume. Thus, sRPE could provide further information on accumulated fatigue not available from markers of internal TL. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate sRPE during heavy training bouts at relatively constant intensity. Methods: Eleven university swimmers performed a high-volume training session consisting of 4 × 10 × 100-yd (4 × 10 × 91.4 m). Repetition lap time and heart rate were measured for each repetition and averaged for each set. Blood lactate concentration was measured after each set. At the end of each set, a 10-minute rest period was allowed, during which sRPE values were obtained, as if the training bout had ended. Results: There were no differences between sets for lap time (P = .096), heart rate (P = .717), and blood lactate concentration (P = .466), suggesting that the subjects were working at the same external and internal intensity. There was an increase (P = .0002) in sRPE between sets (first 4 [1.2], second 5 [1.3], third 7 [1.3], and fourth 8 [1.5]), suggesting that even when maintaining the same intensity, the perception of the entire workload increased with duration. Conclusions: Increases in duration, although performed with a consistent internal and external intensity, influences sRPE. These findings support the concept that sRPE may provide additional information on accumulated fatigue not available from other markers of TL.

Effect of Progressive Fatigue on Session RPE

“…If exercise intensity is the only use of sRPE, then it should not drift when longer training bouts are used (e.g., increased fatigue). A previous study [16] suggested that sRPE progressively increased during a course of prolonged exercise training (within days) although objective measures of intensity, such as pace, HR and HLa concentration did not change, which was also noted by Foster and colleagues [10]. The present study represents a further exploration of these findings (between days).…”

Effect Of Progressive Fatigue On Session Rpe

“…If exercise intensity is the only use of sRPE, then it should not drift when longer training bouts are used (e.g., increased fatigue). A previous study [16] suggested that sRPE progressively increased during a course of prolonged exercise training (within days) although objective measures of intensity, such as pace, HR and HLa concentration did not change, which was also noted by Foster and colleagues [10]. The present study represents a further exploration of these findings (between days).…”

“…Although the 0-10 RPE scale has been shown to have strong positive correlation with HLa concentration during exercise [11], there is evidence to support the concept that the RPE-HLa relationship is altered during extended cycling at a steady workload [27], and during repeated bouts of exercise [16]. This alteration does not seem to be influenced by recovery time between bouts (up to 3.5h) [28].…”

“…Herman et al [30] have also shown that sRPE increases after progressive fatigue from continuous bouts of exercise. Fusco et al [16] have shown that sRPE may provide information about accumulated fatigue during a single prolonged training bout, while other markers of intensity, such as HR and HLa concentration, remained constant. In this study, the workouts were formatted in a fashion that strained the subjects enough during the sixty-minute sessions to elicit a decrease in HLa concentration and an increase in sRPE.…”

“…Thus, the sRPE-derived training load may be used as an indicator of internal training load [15]. Recent evidence suggests that sRPE not only provides information related to intensity, but also conveys information about progressive fatigue [16]. In particular, sRPE provides information on accumulated fatigue that is not available from accepted markers of internal training intensity, such as HR and HLa concentration.…”