EFFECT OF KNOWLEDGE OF EXERCISE DURATION ON PREDICTED, ACTUAL, AND SESSION LEG MUSCLE PAIN RESPONSES DURING CYCLE ERGOMETRY

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of knowledge of exercise duration on predicted, actual, and session ratings of leg muscle pain (RMP-Legs) during cycle ergometry. METHODS: Subjects were 36 females and 36 males, ages 18-30 yrs. Each subject performed one baseline graded exercise test to exhaustion and one isotime (20 minute) cycle trial at 70% VO2peak. Based on random assignment, the subject was told they would exercise for one of the following durations: a 20 minute trial (Accurate Duration; ACC-20), a 30 minute trial (Long Duration; LONG-30), or a 10 minute trial (Short Duration; SHORT-10). A predicted RMP-Legs was reported immediately prior to exercise. Actual RMP-Legs were reported at two min intervals during exercise. Session RMP-Legs was reported 10 min post-exercise. RESULTS: For the female sample, no differences were found in predicted RMP-Legs between knowledge of duration conditions. The interaction effect was significant. Actual RMP-Legs were higher in the SHORT-10 than LONG-30 condition at minutes 2, 4 and 6. Actual RMP-Legs were lower in the SHORT-10 than ACC-20 condition at minutes 14, 16, 18, and 20. Actual RMP-Legs were lower in the LONG-30 than the ACC-20 condition at minutes 4 and 20. Compared to the predicted RMP-Legs, actual RMP-Legs for the ACC-20 condition were lower at minutes 2, 4, and 6. Actual RMP-Legs for the LONG-30 condition were lower at minutes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 compared to the predicted rating. Actual RMP-Legs for the SHORT-10 condition were lower at minutes 2, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 compared to the predicted rating. Session RMP-Legs did not differ. For the male sample, actual RMP-Legs were lower at minutes 2 and 4 compared to the predicted rating. There was no significant difference in RMP-Legs between conditions. Session RMP-Legs did not differ between knowledge of duration conditions. CONCLUSIONS: In general, pre-participation knowledge of exercise duration did not have an effect on predicted, actual, and session RMP-Legs for young recreationally active females and males. Future research should examine knowledge of exercise intensity as a possible teleoanticipatory factor that influences leg muscle pain responses during prolonged exercise