Efficacy of perceptual versus heart rate monitoring in the development of endurance.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effectiveness of using ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) with heart rate in the monitoring of exercise intensity during aerobic dance instruction. Thirty-eight students who enrolled in aerobic dance classes used heart rate to monitor exercise intensity while 38 additional students used RPE to monitor exercise intensity during a 14-week course. Classes met twice a week for 50 min and all outside workouts were recorded. The groups did not differ with respect to the number of outside workouts. The dependent variable was endurance performance as measured by the distance run in 15 min. Data were analysed with a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for multifactor experiments. There were significant trials (P less than 0.0001) and interaction (P less than 0.05) effects, and both groups improved significantly in endurance performance during 14 weeks of training. However, the group using RPE to monitor exercise intensity had a significantly greater gain in endurance. The heart rate group had a mean increase of 6% (166 m) whereas the RPE group increased 11% (274 m). It is concluded that during aerobic dance the monitoring of exercise intensity with RPE is associated with greater improvement in endurance than is heart rate monitoring.