Reliability of Rating Scales of Perceived Exertion and Heart Rate During Progressive and Maximal Constant Load Exercises Till Exhaustion in Physical Education Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and estimation of time limit (ETL) scales, and heart rate in physical education students during standardised and replicated progressive and constant load exercises till exhaustion realised on a track. Three groups of ten physical education students who present the same anthropometrical characteristics performed an incremental exercise to determine their maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) on an indoor track. Thereafter, group 1 performed an identical incremental exercise whereas groups 2 and 3 performed two identical exercises to exhaustion: a constant load exercise up to exhaustion at 90 and 100 % MAV, respectively, to determine the time to exhaustion at each intensity (tlim 90 and tlim 100). The results of this study were that MAV, tlim 90 and tlim 100 were not significantly different between the two trials. Moreover, the individual Pearson correlation coefficients between test and retests were very high (0.94 to 1). The slope and y intercept values of the relationships between test and retest perceived exertion ratings were not significantly different from the identity line. Moreover, test-retest differences in HR values fell within the 95 % LoA analysis. Consequently, HR values, RPE and ETL scales are reliable during standardised and replicated progressive and constant load exercises till exhaustion performed on a track with physical education students.

Rating scale of perceived exertion (RPE) - rating scale of estimated time limit (ETL) - heart rate - limits of agreement analysis - Pearson correlation coefficient - progressive and constant load exercise

References

• 1 American College of Sports Medicine .The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1990 22: 265-274
• 2 American College of Sports Medicine .The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998 30: 975-991
• 3 Atkinson G, Nevill M. Statistical methods for assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine.  Sports Med. 1998;  26 217-238
• 4 Billat V, Fléchet B, Petit B, Muriaux G, Koralsztein J P. Interval training at V˙O₂max: effects on aerobic performance and overtraining markers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 156-163
• 5 Billat V, Slawinski J, Bocquet V, Demarle A, Laffite L, Chassaing P, Koralsztein J P. Intermittent runs at the velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake unables subjects to remain at maximal oxygen uptake for a longer time than intense but submaximal runs.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 188-196
• 6 Bishop D. Reliability of a 1-h endurance performance tests in trained female cyclists.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 554-559
• 7 Bland J M, Altman D G. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement.  Lancet. 1986;  8 307-310
• 8 Borg G V. Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress.  Scand J Rehabil Med. 1970;  2 92-98
• 9 Borg G V. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;  14 377-381
• 10 Borg G V. Borg’s Perceived Exertion and Pain Scales.  Champaign: Human Kinetics. 1998;  31-34
• 11 Borg G V, Noble B. Perceived exertion. In: Wilmore JH (ed). Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews New York; Academic Press 1974: 131-153
• 12 British Standards Institution .Precision of test methods I. Guide for the determination and reproducibility for a standard test method. BS5497: Pt 1. London; BSI 1979
• 13 Demarle A P, Slawinski J J, Laffite L P, Bocquet V G, Koralsztein J P, Billat V. Decrease of O₂ deficit is potential factor in increased time to exhaustion after specific endurance training.  J Appl Physiol. 2001;  90 947-953
• 14 Ekblom B, Goldbarg A N. The influence of physical training and others factors on the subjective rating of perceived exertion.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1971;  83 399-406
• 15 Eston R G, Davies B L, Williams J G. Use of perceived effort ratings to control exercise intensity in young healthy adults.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 222-224
• 16 Eston R G, Williams J G. Reliability of ratings of perceived effort for regulation of exercise intensity.  Br J Sports Med. 1988;  22 153-154
• 17 Garcin M, Vautier J F, Vandewalle H, Wolff M, Monod H. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during cycling exercises at constant power output.  Ergonomics. 1998;  41 1500-1509
• 18 Garcin M, Vandewalle H, Monod H. A new rating scale of perceived exertion based on subjective estimation of exhaustion time: a preliminary study.  Int J Sports Med. 1999;  20 40-43
• 19 Glantz S A. Primer of bio-statistics (4th ed.). New York; Mac Graw Hill 1997: 266-271
• 20 Grant S, Mac M illan, Newell J, Wood L, Keatley S, Simpson D, Leslie K, Fairlie-Clark S. Reproducibility of the blood lactate threshold, 4 mmol.l^-1 marker, heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion during incremental treadmill exercise in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2002;  87 159-166
• 21 Hays W L. Statistics (5th ed.) Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers 1994
• 22 Lamb K L, Eston R G, Corns D. Reliability of ratings of perceived exertion during progressive treadmill exercise.  Br J Sports Med. 1999;  33 336-339
• 23 Marriott H E, Lamb K L. The use of ratings of perceived exertion for regulating exercise levels in rowing ergometry.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  72 267-271
• 24 Pandolf K B. Advances in the study and application of perceived exertion. In: Terjung RL (ed). Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews Philadelphia; Franklin Institute 1983: 118-158
• 25 Pollock M L, Jackson A S, Foster C. The use of the perception scale for exercise prescription. In: Borg G, Ottoson D (eds). The Perception of Exertion in Physical Work London; Wennergren Center Int Symp Series, Mac Millan Press 1986: 161-176
• 26 Robertson R J. Central signals of perceived exertion during dynamic exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;  14 390-396
• 27 Shephard R J, Vandewalle H, Gil V, Bouhlel E, Monod H. Respiratory, muscular and overall perceptions of effort: the influence of hypoxia and muscle mass.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24 556-567
• 28 Skinner J S, Hustler R, Bergsteinova V, Buskirk E R. The validity and reliability of a rating scale of perceived exertion.  Med Sci Sports. 1973;  5 94-96
• 29 Stamford B A. Validity and reliability of subjective ratings of perceived exertion during work.  Ergonomics. 1976;  19 53-60
• 30 Ueda T, Kurokawa T. Relationships between perceived exertion and physiological variables during swimming.  Int J Sports Med. 1995;  16 385-389
• 31 Vautier J F. Puissance critique, indice d’endurance du travail dynamique. Thèse de Biomécanique et Physiologie du Mouvement, de l’Université Paris XI,. 1994
• 32 Walker C AH, Lamb K L, Marriott H E. The validity of using ratings of perceived exertion to estiated and regulate exercise intensity during stepping ergometry.  J Sports Sci. 1996;  14 102-103
• 33 Wenos D L, Wallace J P, Surburg P R, Morris H H. Reliability and comparison of RPE during variable and constant exercise protocols performed by older women.  Int J Sports Med. 1996;  17 193-198
• 34 Whaley M H, Forsyth G. The value of traditional intensity feedback for self regulation of initial exercise training.  J Cardiopulm Rehabil. 1990;  10 98-106