RATINGS OF PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACTIVITY

PURPOSE: The object of this investigation was to establish a group normalized perceptual response (GNPR), using the Borg 15 category rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, that is consistent with the Surgeon General's recommendations for physical activity intensity. GNPR is defined as a range of RPE's that corresponds to a target physiological outcome during exercise that is common to a specified group of individuals. METHODS: Twenty four college aged students (12 males; 12 females) underwent a) a progressive exercise test administered on a semi-recumbent leg cycle machine to determine VO2peak and b) 12 six min exercise trials on a combined arm and leg exercise machine. Three trials were conducted per day and at least 24 hr separated testing sessions. RESULTS: RPE's of between 7 and 10 were consistently estimated during trials that could be categorized as light to moderately intense (35 to 52% VO2peak). These exercise intensities resulted in an energy expenditure (mean ± SD) of between 5.38 ± 1.37 to 7.56 ± .60 and 3.58 ± .58 to 5.30 ± .97 kcal.min−1 for the male and female subjects, respectively. CONCLUSION: RPE's corresponding to “extremely light (7) to very light or light (10)” are sufficient in healthy young college students to achieve the public health target activity level with respect to exercise intensity. Therefore, this GNPR (i.e. RPE = 7 to 10) may be used as a prescriptive reference enabling subjects to produce an exercise intensity designed to promote health.