Comparison of Predicted vs. Actual Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) for a Submaximal Exercise Test

PURPOSE: To determine the proportion of individuals who over or under predict the exertion associated with a submaximal exercise test and to examine potential gender differences. METHODS: The sample consisted of 38 females and 50 males, aged 27–30 yrs. Participants completed a submaximal graded exercise test that terminated at 85%of age-adjusted maximal heart rate. Participants were asked to predict the level of exertion prior to beginning the test and were asked to give an overall session RPE immediately following the completion of the test. The predicted RPE was subtracted from the post exercise RPE and participants were classified as over predicting, under predicting or accurately predicting the post exercise RPE. RESULTS: Overall, 47% of the participants over estimated, 34% under estimated and 19% accurately estimated the exertion associated with the submaximal test. A significant (p=.014) gender difference was found in that 53% of the females over estimated the exertion compared to 42% of the males and 46% of the males under estimated the exertion compared to 18% of the females. While males were more likely to be classified as physically fit than females (56% vs. 11%), fitness was not significantly related to the likelihood of over or under estimating the exertion. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that females may be more likely to over predict the exertion associated with activity while males may be more likely to under predict the exertion associated with activity. These findings may have implications in better understanding gender differences in overall physical activity