TIME-COURSE OF EFFORT PERCEPTION (RPE) AND INFLUENCE OF STRAIN

In this study the time course of effort perception (Borg's RPE scale) and influence of strain on RPE were investigated, using a bicycle ergometer. After a five-minute period of performing under conditions of similar strain, subjects had to produce a high or a low power output for periods of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 minutes. The observed time course of RPE was similar both after a step up and a step down in power output, but in both cases RPE continued to change during the time observed. The time course was also similar to the one observed when starting from a resting condition, and thus would seem to be inherent to effort perception. A strong influence of strain on RPE was observed at the high power level. At the low power output the influence of strain on RPE was less apparent and interindividual variability was higher. The results add evidence to previous suggestions that the Borg scale does not reflect strain very well in a sport or industrial setting with submaximal exertion.