Reproducibility of blood lactate-anchored ratings of perceived exertion

This study investigated the reproducibility of blood lactate-anchored ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in seven women of average, and seven of above average cardiorespiratory fitness, [moderate and high maximal oxygen uptake (Mod and High , respectively)]. The subjects completed a series of four exercise tests, comprising a assessment and three 0-grade, velocity-incremental, treadmill-running RPE estimation trials. The results revealed no significant between-group differences in RPE at the blood lactate concentration threshold (LT), and at reference levels of 2 , 2.5 or 4 mmoll-1 (RPELT, RPE2, RPE2.5 and RPE4, respectively). The RPELT, RPE2, RPE2.5 and RPE4 were characterised by intra-class correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.97, 0.97, 0.72 and 0.83, 0.96, 0.96, 0.90, in the High and Mod groups, respectively. The SEM% (95% confidence limits computed as a percentage of the group mean score) largely mirrored the trend in reliability with the highest values observed for RPELT in the Mod group and RPE4 in the High group. The Spearman-Brown prediction equation indicated that fixed blood lactate concentrations of 2, 2.5 and 4 mmoll-1 offer acceptable practical utility as potential perceptual anchor points for both groups, requiring one trial only to achieve a measurement error of less than 6%.sch_phyBorg GAV (1998) Borg's perceived exertion and pain scales. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (1992) Physiological assessment of the elite athlete: position statement. White Line Press, Leeds Demelo JJ, Cureton KJ, Boineau RE, Singh MM (1987) Ratings of perceived exertion at the lactate threshold in trained and untrained men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 19:354-363 Dunbar CC, Robertson RJ, Baun R, et al (1992) The validity of regulating exercise intensity by ratings of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:94-99 Hetzler RK, Seip RL, Boucher SH et al (1991) Effect of exercise modality on ratings of perceived exertion at various lactate concentrations. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:88-92 Nishibata I, Sakata N, Ogawa S, Okumura M (1993) Better reproducibility of 2 and 4 mmoll-1 blood lactate thresholds than inflection point. Med Sci Sports Exerc 25:S65 Thomas JR, Nelson JK (1990) Introduction to research in health, physical education, recreation and dance. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill. Seip RL, Snead D, Pierce EF, Stein P, Weltman A (1991) Perceptual responses and blood lactate concentration: effect of training state. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:80-87 Smutok MA, Skrinar GS, Pandolf KB (1980). Exercise intensity: subjective regulation by perceived exertion. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 61:569-574 Weltman A, Weltman J, Rutt R et al (1989) Percentages of maximal heart rate, HRR, and V02 peak for determining endurance training intensity in sedentary women. Int J Sports Med 10:212-216 Weltman A, Snead D, Stein P et al (1990) Reliability and validity of a continuous incremental treadmill protocol for the determination of lactate threshold, fixed blood lactate concentrations and VO2 max. Int J Sports Med 11:26-32 Winer BJ (1981) Statistical principles in experimental design, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York85pub998pub