Modeling The Rating Of Perceived Exertion For Young And Middle-Aged People In Mainland China

BACKGROUND: Using rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to measure exercise intensity can improve compliance and benefit of exercise. To explore the validity of using RPE to measure the exercise intensity of young and middle-aged people in mainland China, as well as model the relationship between RPE and heart rate (HR), RPE and Metabolic Equivalent of Energy (MET).METHODS: Thirty-three young people (17 men and 16 women) and 30 middle-aged people (15 men and 15 women) performed incrementally 6 stage pedaling tests based on their estimated maximal acceptable pedaling workload (MAPW) with 3 minutes between each two loads. Under each workload, participants pedaled on a cycle ergometer for 3 minutes. HR, MET and RPE (modified CR-10 Scale) were simultaneously measured at the end of each workload.RESULTS: For the total group, RPE was strongly correlated with HR (r=0.873, P<0.005) and MET (r=0.859, P<0.001). The regression model conveying the relationship between RPE and HR was established according to age group. Young people: HR =11.44 *RPE +85.98 (R-2=0.85, SEE=11.24), middle-aged people: HR =10.63 *RPE+73.27 (R-2=0.86, SEE=9.49). The regression model conveying the relationship between RPE and MET was established according to gender and age group. Young men: MET =0.97 *RPE +2.23 (R-2=0.86, SEE=0.91), young women: MET=0.78*RPE +2.04 (R-2=0.83, SEE=0.84), middle-aged men: MET=0.85*RPE +1.91 (R-2=0.83, SEE=0.84), middle-aged women: MET=0.62*RPE +1.71 (R-2=0.83, SEE=0.59).CONCLUSIONS: The established regression models between RPE and HR, RPE and MET have good performance, which can be used in daily exercise for young and middle-aged people in mainland China.