Cardiovascular Fitness and the Psychophysics of Perceived Exertion

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptual response to absolute exercise intensities of individuals differing in cardiovascular fitness using both the RPE scale and a magnitude estimation procedure. Male (N = 34) and female (N = 41) subjects were classified as either high or low fit on the basis of predicted maximal oxygen uptake. Subjects cycled for two six-minute periods separated by a five-minute rest period. Following two minutes of cycling at 600 kpm ṁ min-1, work loads of 200, 400, 800, and 1000 kpm ṁ min-1 were presented in random order for one minute. The mean (± SD) perceptual exponent for the high fit women (1.33 ± .41) was significantly (p < .05) higher than that for the low fit women (1.06 ± .42). Perceptual exponents for the high (1.16 ± .45) and low (1.04 ± .39) fit men did not differ (p > .05). For both samples, RPE values did not differ significantly between high and low fit groups at any work load (p > .05). Heart rate was significantly (p < .05) higher at each work load for the low fit subjects. It was concluded that perceived exertion as measured by the RPE scale does not discriminate between groups of high and low fit subjects during short term exercise at low to moderate intensities, despite differences in cardiovascular strain.