title: Reliability and comparison of RPE during variable and constant exercise protocols performed by older women.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to assess if women 60 to 75 years of age perceived a series of exercise intensities differently from selected intensities in that series and to determine if a particular intensity was perceived more reliably. Twenty-four women (65 +/- 3.8 yr) completed a walking VO2max treadmill test. Subjects were either assigned to a variable, randomly ordered exercise protocol (GP1) or to one of three constant exercise protocols (Gps2-4). Each subject performed relative exercise intensities of 30, 50, and 70% of peak VO2 for three 5 min work bouts over 3 test days. Differences in RPE (p < 0.05) were found between each intensity and between the same intensities from both protocols. Women in GP1 rated exercise higher than women who exercised at a constant exercise intensity (p < 0.05). Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated that the exercise intensity of 50% of maximum was more reliable regardless of the protocol (Gp1: R = 0.97, Gp3: r = 0.94). When the RPE-HR correlation coefficients were transformed into a log scale, neither protocol had a stronger association (p > 0.05) between RPE-HR. It was concluded that older women should be given a range of exercise intensities that include the 50% relative exercise intensity as a perceptual marker in order to reach a reliable rate of exertion.
authors: Department of Kinesiology, James Madison University, VA 22807, USA.
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Wenos
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Wallace
authors: P R
authors: PR
authors: Surburg
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: Morris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology