Abstract
Although rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is used to estimate exercise intensity, it has become evident that if fact there is only slight relationship between RPE and heart rate(HR). This study examined variability of HR in response to each RPE in healthy male students. One hundreds and five subjects walked and ran on the tread mill by progressively increasing workloads. HR and RPE measurements were recorded every two minutes. The frequency distribution of HR in response to RPEs were shown in 10 bpm increments. The median of distribution frequancy of RPE at very hard stage was shown at the HR of 180 bpm and variability was less than other RPEs. However, the widest range of HR, 100-200 bpm, was that of RPE at somewhat hard stage, which covered all the HR during exercise. These data suggeste that the estimation of exercise intensity by use of RPE not reliable, especially in the case of the range of somewhat hard exercise.
