ABSTRACT
Research on gender differences in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) has been equivocal with few studies comparing exercise modes and differentiated RPE. The current study examined gender differences in overall and differentiated RPE at the respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) during cycling and treadmill exercise. Each minute during a maximal treadmill and maximal cycling test, men (n=18) and women (n=16) estimated RPE corresponding to overall (RPE-O), legs (RPE-L), and breathing/chest (RPE-C) exertion. A 2 (gender) x 2 (mode) x 3 (RPE-O, RPE-L, RPE-C) repeated measures MANOVA revealed no significant mode x gender or RPE x gender interactions. The exercise mode x RPE interaction approached significance (P=0.055) when cycling [mean (SD) 14.8 (2.9)] and treadmill exercise [12.8 (2.9)] were compared. No main effects for gender [men: 13.7 (2.6), women: 13.4 (2.6)] were detected. Main effects for mode showed RPE to be significantly greater during cycling [14.4 (2.8)] versus treadmill exercise [12.7 (2.9)]. Main effects for differentiated RPE showed RPE-L [13.8 (2.6)] to be significantly greater than RPE-O [13.5 (2.6)] and RPE-C [13.3 (2.6)]. Results suggest that overall and differentiated RPE at the RCT are not significantly different between genders during cycling or treadmill exercise. While RPE-L was statistically greater than RPE-O and RPE-C, the magnitude of the differences makes this result of little practical significance. The marginal interaction suggests greater RPE-L values might be expected at the RCT during cycling versus treadmill exercise. However, results suggest that minimal RPE differences exist between men and women during cycling and treadmill exercise.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Physiological/physiology , Anaerobic Threshold/physiology , Homeostasis/physiology , Oxygen Consumption/physiology , Perception/physiology , Physical Exertion/physiology , Respiratory Mechanics/physiology , Adult , Exercise Test , Female , Humans , Male , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study examined physiological responses during 0% and 10% inclined treadmill exercise at prescribed ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) using the perceptual estimation-production paradigm. METHODS: RPE's were estimated during a Bruce treadmill test to volitional exhaustion. Subjects then produced individually prescribed RPE's (associated with 50% and 70% VO2max) during level (0% grade) and inclined (10% grade) treadmill exercise. Heart rate response (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) were compared between estimation (EST), level production (LPR), and incline production (IPR) trials using one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results were considered significant at < or = 0.05. RESULTS: At 50% VO2max, HR and VO2 were not significantly different between EST (134 +/- 13 b x min-1, 27.1 +/- 5.6 ml x kg x min-1) and IPR (139 +/- 18 b x min-1, 30.6 +/- 11.2 ml x kg x min-1). However, HR and VO2 during LPR (123 +/- 20 b x min-1, 24.3 +/- 8.8 ml x kg x min-1) were significantly lower than IPR. For 70% VO2max, HR and VO2 were not significantly different between EST (168 +/- 9 b x min-1, 42.1 +/- 9.4 ml x kg x min-1) and IPR (169 +/- 14 b x min-1, 41.1 +/- 10.2 ml x kg x min-1). However HR and VO2 during LPR (155 +/- 17 b x min-1, 35.1 +/- 8.1 ml x kg x min-1) were significantly lower than during EST and IPR. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest physiological responses during RPE estimation-production trials correspond better when estimation and production trials were performed at a similar treadmill incline. For exercise prescription purposes, RPE estimations made during inclined treadmill exercise may require adjustments to achieve appropriate intensities during level treadmill exercise.
