The Value of Traditional Intensity Feedback for Self-Regulation of Initial Exercise Training

To assess the efficacy of different feedback methods for self-regulation of initial training intensity, 32 healthy, sedentary men (age = 23.6 ± 3.2 years; VO2max = 50.4 ± 4.3 ml. kg-1, min-1) completed four 800 meter jogging bouts (T1–4) on each of four days (D1–4) during 1 week. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three feedback groups: heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), HR + RPE feedback, or no inter-trial feedback (CONT). Following a paced learning trial to target heart rate (75% Max HRR) on day 1, subjects were instructed to replicate the target intensity from the paced trial using the assigned feedback. Results revealed that all four groups exceeded the target heart rate during T2–4 on each training day. A comparison among groups revealed that subjects using HR feedback (HR and HR + RPE groups) were significantly (P <0.05) more accurate than those not using HR feedback (RPE and CONT) in regulating training HR during the week. The group using RPE only feedback was no more accurate than the control group on training days 1, 3, and 4. The magnitude of target heart rate overshoot seen during the present study was lower than expected based on previous studies, and this may have been due to the paced learning trial on day 1. It was concluded that RPE feedback, without HR monitoring provided little benefit for self-regulation of initial training intensity.