Sex-Related Differences in Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Estimated Time Limit

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was i) to study the effect of sex on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and estimation of time limit (ETL) during runs to exhaustion at both absolute and relative physical and physiological reference criteria, ii) to propose some recommendations for exercise intensity prescription from both RPE and ETL according to sex. Eight male and eight female middle-distance endurance-trained runners performed two exercises until exhaustion on an outdoor track. The first test was a graded exercise to determine maximal aerobic velocity (vV·O₂max), the velocity at the lactate threshold (vLT), and the velocity at delta 50 (vΔ50: the velocity halfway between vV·O₂max and vLT). The second test was a constant all-out run at vΔ50 to determine the time to exhaustion at this intensity (tlim). The results of this study showed that the female runners perceived exercise as being harder, felt that they could endure less and had higher heart rate values than males for a given absolute velocity (km · h^-1) whereas there were no difference between males and females for a given relative velocity (%vV·O₂max). Moreover, the female runners perceived exercise as lighter and felt that they could endure more than the males for a given absolute time period (in s) whereas there was no difference between males and females for a given relative time period (%tlim). This result may be explained by the fact that the same exercise intensity or duration corresponded to higher %vV·O₂max and lower %tlim for the females compared to the males. Consequently, physical trainers can prescribe the same perceived ratings for a given percentage of vV·O₂max or tlim both in male and female athletes.

Maximal aerobic velocity - exercise intensity - exercise duration - exercise prescription

References

• 1 American College of Sports Medicine . The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 975-991
• 2 Astrand P O, Ryhming I. A namogram for calculation of aerobic capacity (physical fitness) from pulse rate during submaximal work.  J Appl Physiol. 1954;  7 218-221
• 3 Aunola S, Rusko H. Does anaerobic threshold correlate with maximal lactate steady state.  J Sports Sci. 1992;  10 309-323
• 4 Billat V, Beillot J, Jan J, Rochcongar P, Carre F. Gender effect on the relationship of time limit at 100 % V·O₂max with other bioenergetic characteristics.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 1049-1055
• 5 Billat V, Koralzstein J P. Significance of the velocity at V·O₂max and time to exhaustion at this velocity.  Sports Med. 1996;  22 90-108
• 6 Billat V, Slawinski J, Bocquet V, Demarle A, Lafitte L, Chassaing P, Koralsztein J P. Intermittent runs at the velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake enables subjects to remain at maximal oxygen uptake for a longer time than intense but submaximal runs.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 188-196
• 7 Birk T J, Birk C. A use of ratings of perceived exertion for exercise prescription.  Clin Sports Med. 1987;  4 1-8
• 8 Borg G V. Borg's Perceived Exertion and Pain Scales. Leeds; Human Kinetics 1998
• 9 Borg G V. Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress.  Scand J Rehab Med. 1970;  2 92-98
• 10 Borg G V, Noble B. Perceived exertion. Wilmore JH Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. New York; Academic Press 1974: 131-153
• 11 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
• 12 Faverge J M. Méthodes statistiques en psychologie appliquée. Tome 2. Paris; PUF 1966
• 13 Garcin M. Perceived Exertion Study During Graded and Constant Run Exercise up to Exhaustion. University Paris VI: Doctoral dissertation. 1997
• 14 Garcin M, Billat V. Perceived exertion scales attest both intensity and exercise duration.  Percept Mot Skills. 2001;  93 661-671
• 15 Garcin M, Fleury A, Billat V. The ratio HLa:RPE as a tool to appreciate overreaching in young high-level middle-distance runners.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 16-21
• 16 Garcin M, Mille-Hamard L, Billat V. Influence of aerobic fitness level on measured and estimated perceived exertion during exhausting runs.  Int J Sports Med. 2004;  25 270-277
• 17 Garcin M, Mille-Hamard L, Devillers S, Dufour S, Delattre E, Billat V. Influence of physical previous practice on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and estimated time limit (ETL) during endurance exercises.  Percept Mot Skills. 2003;  97 1150-1162
• 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 Garcin M, Wolff M, Bejma T. Reliability of rating scales of perceived exertion and heart rate during progressive and maximal constant load exercises till exhaustion in physical education students.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 285-290
• 20 Hays W L. Statistics. 5th ed. New York; Harcourt Brace College 1994
• 21 Kamber M. Laktatmessungen in der Sportmedizin: Messmethodenvergleich.  Schweiz Ztschr Sportmed. 1992;  40 77-86
• 22 Lacour J R, Padilla-Magunacelaya S, Chatard J C, Arsac L, Barthelemy J C. Assessment of running velocity at maximal oxygen uptake.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;  62 77-82
• 23 Lellouch J, Lazar P. Méthodes statistiques en expérimentation biologique. Paris; Flammarion Médecine Sciences 1993
• 24 MacLaughlin J E, King G A, Howley E T, Bassett Jr D R, Ainsworth B E. Validation of the COSMED K4b² portable metabolic system.  Int J Sports Med. 2001;  22 280-284
• 25 Miller C R, Whaley M H, Kaminsky L A, Dwyer G B. Variability in RPEs at fixed exercise intensities during graded exercise testing in an adult fitness population.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 45
• 26 Noble B J, Metz K F, Pandolf K B, Bell C W, Cafarelli E, Sime W E. Perceived exertion during walking and running-II.  Med Sci Sports. 1973;  5 116-120
• 27 O'Connor P J, Raglin J S, Morgan W P. Psychometric correlates of perception during arm ergometry in males and females.  Int J Sports Med. 1996;  17 462-466
• 28 Parfitt G, Markland D, Holmes C. Responses to physical exertion in active and inactive males and females.  J Sport Exerc Psychol. 1994;  16 178-186
• 29 Pivarnik J M, Sherman N W. Responses of aerobically fit men and women to uphill/downhill walking and slow jogging.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 127-130
• 30 Robertson R J, Moyna N M, Sward K L, Millich N B, Goss F L, Thompson P D. Gender comparison of RPE at absolute and relative physiological criteria.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 2120-2129
• 31 Robertson R J, Noble B J. Perception of physical exertion: methods, mediators, and applications, Review.  Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1997;  25 407-452
• 32 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
• 33 Sidney K H, Shephard R J. Perception of exertion in the elderly, effects of aging, mode of exercise and physical training.  Percept Mot Skills. 1977;  44 999-1010
• 34 Taylor H L, Buskirk E, Henschel A. Maximal oxygen uptake as an objective measure of cardiorespiratory performance.  J Appl Physiol. 1955;  8 73-80
• 35 Travlos A K, Marisi D Q. Perceived exertion during physical exercise among individuals high and low in fitness.  Percept Mot Skills. 1996;  82 419-424
• 36 Ueda T, Kurokawa T. Validity of heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion as indices of exercise intensity in a group of children while swimming.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;  63 200-204
• 37 Winborn M D, Meyers A W, Mulling C. The effects of gender and experience on perceived exertion.  J Sport Exerc Psychol. 1988;  10 22-31