The Effect of Training Intensity on Ratings of Perceived Exertion

Abstract

We examined the effects of intensity of training on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at the lactate threshold (LT), fixed blood lactate concentrations (FBLC) of 2.0, 2.5 and 4.0 mM and peak in 25 untrained eumenorrheic women (mean +/- SD: age = 30.9 +/- 4.1 yrs; height = 165.7 +/- 5.9 cm; weight = 65.5 +/- 7.6 kg) who completed one year of run training. Subjects were recruited as sedentary controls or were randomly assigned to one of two training groups: 1) at the lactate threshold (at LT) or 2) above the lactate threshold (greater than LT). The at LT group trained at velocity LT and the greater than LT group trained at the velocity midway between velocity LT and peak velocity. Training subjects were reevaluated every fourth menstrual cycle and training intensity was adjusted. The control group was reassessed at menstrual cycle 12. Before training no among group differences were observed for VO2 or velocity at LT, FBLC and peak. Both training groups increased VO2 at LT, FBLC and peak as a result of training (p less than 0.05), with the greater than LT group exhibiting greater improvement than the at LT group (VO2 at LT, FBLC of 2.0, 2.5 and 4.0 mM and peak increased by 6.4, 5.3, 5.1, 4.0 and 4.7 ml/kg.min-1 for at LT and by 10.4, 9.2, 8.6, 5.1 and 5.9 ml/kg.min-1 for greater than LT; p less than 0.05). Similar findings were observed for the velocity associated with these lactate concentrations. No pre/post differences were observed in VO2 or velocity for the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of Aerobic Fitness Level on Measured and Estimated Perceived Exertion During Exhausting Runs

“…In effect, our results, like those of Demello et al [15], Boutcher et al [13], Seip et al [25], and Haskvitz et al [40], showed that RPE at LT was not affected by the state of training, even if absolute and relative velocities corresponding to LT were statistically different between the two groups ( Table 1). The fact that perceived exertion at vLT was similar in the 2 groups, even though vLT occurred at significantly different percentages of vV Ç O 2 max, suggests that the vLT is an important physiological anchor point for perception of effort during exercise [15].…”

Perceptual and Physiological Responses to Recovery from a Maximal 30-Second Sprint

“…Concerns also exist regarding the link between perceived effort and blood lactate during exercise because, as with V E the lack of any appreciable accumulation of blood lactate below lactate threshold means that the relationship only appears to hold true for higher exercise intensities. Once again, although the results of various experimental interventions add support to a blood lactate-perceived effort relationship (1,5,10,11,14,15,32), others report contradictory findings (17,29,31). If the cues for perceptual responses are the same in exercise and recovery, then the results of this study clearly show that blood lactate is not a causal factor.…”

Anaerobic threshold determination and its importance in chronic heart failure patients

“…A similar conclusion could be deduced also from our results, however. Haskvitz et al (1991) linked the RPE to a certain lactate level in healthy females. Hetzler et al (1991) came to the same conclusion.…”