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PURPOSE: Physiological and perceptual measures during interval exercise are not well understood. The current study therefore examined the correspondence between RPE, HR, and blood lactate concentration (La) during interval cycling. METHODS: VO2peak and the 4.0 mmol x L(-1) lactate threshold were determined. In session 2, subjects (N = 12) warmed up (10 min, 0 W) and completed five 2-min intervals (INT) at >4 mmol x L(-1) workload, each separated by 3 min of recovery (REC) (60 rpm, 0 W). HR, RPE, and La were recorded at 10 min, at the conclusion of each INT, and each REC and 5- and 10-min recovery. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA showed La, HR, and RPE increased significantly across time (INT and REC). At each time point, repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare standardized data (alpha = 0.05). RPE (at INT) intensified concurrently with HR and La at INT. Correlations were significant for INT (P < or = 0.05) (HR-RPE: r = 0.63, La-RPE: r = 0.43). Similarly, RPE and HR for REC systematically increased with La. Correlations for REC were also significant (HR-RPE: r = 0.44, La-RPE: r = 0.34). Correlations were also significant for INT and REC combined (HR-RPE: r = 0.70, La-RPE: r = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: INT and REC independently showed moderate correspondence for RPE-La and RPE-HR. However, tighter overall coupling of HR with RPE (vs La with RPE) and a dissociation between RPE-La suggest RPE during intervals of intense cycling were more sensitive to acute metabolic demand (evidenced by HR) versus La.
Green et al. (Fri,) studied this question.