Perceived exertion and blood lactate concentration during graded treadmill running

  • Fred W. Kolkhorst
  • Scott W. Mittelstadt
  • Forrest A. Dolgener
Original Article
Accepted:

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of treadmill gradients on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) at two fixed blood lactate concentrations ( [La−]b). Ten subjects performed three different incremental treadmill protocols by running either uphill (concentrically-biased), downhill (eccentrically-biased), or on the flat (non-biased). Individual data of each protocol were interpolated to reflect [La−]b corresponding to 2.0 and 4.0 mmol·l−1. At 2.0 mmol·l−1 [La−b, RPE and treadmill speed during downhill running were greater than during level running which was greater than during uphill running (p < 0.05) . Also, the downhill heart rate (HR) was greater than the uphill HR, and downhill minute ventilation (\(\dot V_E \)) was greater than the level\(\dot V_E \). Treadmill speed was the only measure at 4.0 mmol·l−1 [La−]b to differ between gradients. There was a moderate correlation of RPE with HR at both [La−]b (r = 0.73 at 2.0 mmol·l−1;r = 0.48 at 4.0 mmol·l−1) while treadmill speed was moderately correlated with RPE only at 2.0 mmol·l−1 [La−]b (r = 0.70). The results of this study demonstrated that the degree of eccentric-bias during running exercise is an influence of perceived exertion at a moderate but not at a high exercise intensity.

Key words

Concentric Eccentric Heart rate Muscle fibre type Ventilation 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Borg GAV (1982) Physiological bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:377–383Google Scholar
  2. Cafarelli E (1982) Peripheral contributions to the perception of effort. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:382–389Google Scholar
  3. Cafarelli E, Noble BJ (1976) The effect of inspired carbon dioxide on subjective estimates of exertion during exercise. Ergonomics 19:581–589Google Scholar
  4. Carton RL, Rhodes EC (1985) A critical review of the literature on ratings scales for perceived exertion. Sports Med 2:198–222Google Scholar
  5. DeMello JJ, Cureton KJ, Boineau RE, Singh MM (1987) Ratings of perceived exertion at the lactate threshold in trained and untrained men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 19:354–362Google Scholar
  6. Ekblom B, Goldbarg AN (1971) The influence of physical training and other factors on subjective rating of perceived exertion. Acta Physiol Scand 83:399–406Google Scholar
  7. Henriksson J, Knuttgen H, Bonde-Peterson T (1972) Perceived exertion during exercise with concentric and eccentric muscular contractions. Ergonomics 15:537–544Google Scholar
  8. Hetzler RK, Seip RL, Boutcher SH, Pierce E, Snead D, Weltman A (1991) Effect of exercise modality on ratings of perceived exertion at various lactate concentrations. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:80–87Google Scholar
  9. Hill DW, Cureton KJ, Grisham SC, Collins MA (1987) Effect of training on the rating of perceived exertion at the ventilatory threshold. Eur J Appl Physiol 56:206–211Google Scholar
  10. Horstman DH, Weiskopf R, Robinson S (1978) The nature of the perception of effort at sea level and high altitude. Med Sci Sports 11:150–154Google Scholar
  11. Jackson AS, Pollock ML (1978) Generalized equations for predicting body density of men. Br J Nutr 40:497–504Google Scholar
  12. Jackson AS, Pollock ML, Ward A (1980) Generalized equations for predicting body density of women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 12:175–182Google Scholar
  13. Kostka CE, Cafarelli E (1982) Effect of pH on sensation and vastus lateralis EMG during cycling exercise. J Appl Physiol 52:1181–1185Google Scholar
  14. Löllgen H, Ulmer H-V, Gross R, Wilbert G, Nieding Gv (1975) Methodical aspects of perceived exertion rating and its relation to pedalling rate and rotating mass. Eur J Appl Physiol 34:205–215Google Scholar
  15. Mihevic PM (1981) Sensory cues for perceived exertion: a review. Med Sci Sports Med 13:150–163Google Scholar
  16. Morgan WP (1994) Psychological components of effort sense. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26:1071–1077Google Scholar
  17. Morgan WP, Pollock ML (1977) Psychological characterization of the elite distance runner. Ann NY Acad Sci 301:382–403Google Scholar
  18. Nardone A, Schieppati M (1988) Shift of activity from slow to fast muscle during voluntary lengthening contractions of the triceps surae muscles in humans. J Physiol 395:363–381Google Scholar
  19. Nardone A, Romanò C, Schieppati M (1989) Selective recruitment of high-threshold human motor units during voluntary isotonic lengthening or active muscles. J Physiol 409:451–471Google Scholar
  20. Pandolf KB (1983) Advances in the study and application of perceived exertion. In: Terjung R (ed) Exercise and sports sciences reviews, vol 11. Franklin Institute Press, Philadelphia, Pa, pp 118–158Google Scholar
  21. Pandolf K, Cafarelli E, Noble B, Metz K (1972) Perceptual responses during prolonged work. Percept Mt Skills 35:975–985Google Scholar
  22. Pandolf KB, Kamon E, Noble BJ (1978) Perceived exertion and physiological responses during negative and positive work in climbing a laddermill. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 18:227–236Google Scholar
  23. Robertson RJ (1982) Central signals of perceived exertion during dynamic exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:390–396Google Scholar
  24. Robertson RJ, Gillespie RL, McCarthy J, Rose KD (1979) Differentiated perceptions of exertion II. Relationship to local and central physiological responses Percept Mot Skills 49:691–697Google Scholar
  25. Robertson RJ, Falkel JE, Drash AL, Swank AM, Metz KF, Spungen SA, LeBoeuf JR (1986) Effect of blood pH on peripheral and central signals of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 18:114–122Google Scholar
  26. Saltin B, Åstrand P-O (1967) Maximal oxygen uptake in athletes. J Appl Physiol 23:353–358Google Scholar
  27. Sargeant AJ, Davies CTM (1973) Perceived exertion during rhythmic exercise involving different muscles masses. J Hum Ergot 2:3–11Google Scholar
  28. Scip RL, Snead D, Pierce EF, Stein P, Weltman A (1991) Perceptual responses and blood lactate concentration: effect of training state. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:88–92Google Scholar
  29. Siri WE (1956) Gross composition of the body. In: Laurence J, Tobias CA (eds) Advances in biological and medical physics. Academic Press, New York, pp 239–280Google Scholar
  30. Skinner JS, Hustler R, Bergstetnova V, Buskirk ER (1973) Perception of effort during different types of exercise and under different environmental conditions. Med Sci Sports 5:110–115Google Scholar
  31. Stamford BA, Noble BJ (1974) Metabolic cost and perception of effort during bicycle ergometer work performance. Med Sci Sports 6:226–231Google Scholar
  32. Steed J, Gaesser GA, Weltman A (1994) Rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate concentration during submaximal running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26:797–803Google Scholar
  33. Watt B, Grove R (1993) Perceived exertion: antecedents and applications. Sports Med 15:225–241Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • Fred W. Kolkhorst
    • 1
  • Scott W. Mittelstadt
    • 2
  • Forrest A. Dolgener
    • 1
  1. 1.Human Performance Laboratory, 20713 West Gymnasium, School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure ServicesUniversity of Northern IowaCedar FallsUSA
  2. 2.Development Pharmacology, Procter and Gamble PharmaceuticalsNorwichUSA

Personalised recommendations