Ratings of perceived exertion at the lactate threshold in trained and untrained men and women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of state of training and gender on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at the lactate threshold (LT), and to determine whether RPE during moderate to heavy sub-maximal exercise is more closely associated with LT or %VO2max. RPE at the LT (RPELT) and at various percentages of VO2max were compared in 10 male and 10 female trained distance runners, and 10 male and 10 female untrained subjects, 18 to 35 yr of age. Mean (+/- SD) VO2max [ml X kg FFW-1 (fat-free weight) X min-1] of the trained men and women (72.3 +/- 1.4 and 73.1 +/- 1.6) was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than for the untrained men and women (60.2 +/- 1.4 and 53.2 +/- 1.8), confirming their higher cardiorespiratory capacity. Similarly, the mean LTs (%VO2max) of the trained men and women (79.2 +/- 1.7% and 73.3 +/- 1.8%) were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than for the untrained men and women (66.5 +/- 3.3% and 58.9 +/- 3.3%), and mean values for the men were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than for the women. The means for RPELT for the four groups, 13.6 +/- 2.1, 13.5 +/- 1.6, 13.5 +/- 1.5, and 12.9 +/- 1.3, respectively, were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05), even though the ratings were given at markedly different levels of VE, VO2 (1 X min-1), heart rate, and %VO2max.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)