Abstract
Fatigue is an inevitable part of resistance training, making its monitoring
crucial to prevent performance decline. This study evaluated the validity of
ratings of perceived exertion as a measure of fatigue during power bench press
exercises. Fourteen sub-elite male athletes completed three bench press tasks
with varying volumes (low, medium, and high) at 65% of their one-repetition
maximum. The rating of perceived exertion, a spectral fatigue index, and
velocity loss were measured across all conditions. Significant effects were
observed for the overall ratings of perceived exertion, average velocity loss,
and average spectral fatigue index (all p<0.001). As tasks progressed,
the rating of perceived exertion and the spectral fatigue index increased
significantly (p<0.001), while the velocity loss was not significant
under the low-volume condition. Significant correlations were found between the
rating of perceived exertion and the spectral fatigue index (r=0.547,
p<0.001), the velocity loss and the spectral fatigue index
(r=0.603, p<0.001), and the rating of perceived exertion
and the velocity loss (r=0.667, p<0.001). The findings suggest
that both the rating of perceived exertion and the velocity loss are valid
measures of fatigue in power bench press exercises. However, the rating of
perceived exertion is a more practical option due to its simplicity and
accessibility. Furthermore, the rating of perceived exertion can act as a
substitute for velocity when measurement tools are unavailable. It should be
noted that velocity alone may not fully capture fatigue in low-repetition power
training.
Keywords
borg scale - neuromuscular fatigue - resistance training - surface electromyography
