An investigation of RPE-heart rate and the RPE-lactate relationships in elite athletes

This thesis investigated the relationship of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) with heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (La) that involved four studies. The first study concerned comparing RPE relationships with elite swimmers during exercise tests performed during in-season (IS) and off-season (OS) periods of training. The second study examined the effect of high ambient temperatures on the HRRPE and La-RPE relationship in elite cyclists during self-paced cycle tests. The third study investigated the effect of acute simulated moderate altitude (1800m) exposure on the HR-RPE and La-RPE relationship in highly trained cross-country skiers during incremental ski-striding treadmill tests. The fourth, and final study, was concerned with RPE relationships during upper and lower body work with elite kayakers and elite cyclists