Gender Comparison of Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) as a Predictor of Exercise Intensity in College Students

Perceived exertion involves detection and interpretation of sensations arising from the body during physical exercise. Physiological variables such as heart rate and oxygen consumption positively correlate with ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). It is unknown whether the accuracy of predicting exercise intensity from RPE differs between men and women. Therefore, it was examined whether men or women could predict relative exercise intensity, determined by oxygen consumption, more accurately from RPE. Ten male and ten female young adult subjects aged 25.1${\pm}$3.52 yr volunteered to participate. RPE were determined by the Borg 15-category scale, and a standard Bruce treadmill protocol was used to perform graded exercise testing. There was no significant difference in slope means between males and females (p=0.501). No significant difference was observed when plotting rates of perceived exertion (RPE) vs. percentage of $VO_2$ max. The relative maximal oxygen consumptions ($VO_{2max,\;}_{rel}$) were 52.36${\pm}$7.35 ml/kg/min for males and 41.44${\pm}$6.71 ml/kg/min for females, respectively and there was a significantly high difference between the two groups in the relative $VO_{2max}$, as well as figures of 4.05${\pm}$0.36 l/min for males and 2.53${\pm}$0.39 l/min for females in the absolute $VO_{2max}$ in this study. There were no significant differences in slope, y-intercept, and standard error of estimate (SEE) between males and females. No significant difference with RPE according to exercise intensity was found between males and females. However, RPE was a useful predictor of exercise intensity in independent genders.

RPE에 의한 운동강도 예측인자의 남녀 대학생 비교

심박수(heart rate) 및 산소 소비량(oxygen consumption) 등의 생리학적 변수는 운동자각도(RPE)와 밀접한 관련이 있으며, RPE의 남녀차이에 의한 예측 운동강도의 정확성은 아직 밝혀지지 않고 있고, 본 연구는 남녀 대학생의 심장 혈관 및 신진대사의 반응을 평가하고 남녀의 차이를 밝히는 데 있다. 남자대학생($25.1{\pm}1.56$ yr)과 여자대학생($25.0{\pm}4.12$ yr) 각각 10명이 본 연구에 자발적으로 참여를 하였고, 본 연구를 위하여 설정된RPE는 Borg의 15 범주에서 결정을 하였으며, 점증적 운동부하(graded exercise testing)는 Bruce Treadmill Protocol을 이용하였다. 남녀의 평균 slope (p=0.501)와 RPE의 plotting rates와 최대산소섭취율(% $VO_2$max)은 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 각자의 상대적 최대산소섭취량은 남학생의 경우52.36${\pm}$7.35 ml/kg/min, 여학생은 41.44${\pm}$6.71 ml/kg/min로 나타나 두 그룹간에 유의하게 큰 차이가 있었으며, 절대적 최대산소섭취량은 남학생은 4.05${\pm}$0.36 l/min, 여학생은 2.53${\pm}$0.39 l/min로 나타나 두 그룹간에 큰 차이가 나타냈다. 남학생과 여학생간의 slope, y-intercept, SEE는 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 없었다. 본 연구에서 운동강도에 따른 남학생과 여학생의 RPE 의 차이는 유의하게 나타나지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 보아 RPE는 운동중 산소섭취량에 대한 운동강도의 예측에 남녀별 차이가 없어 유효한 예측인자라고 사료된다.