Assessment of perceived exertion among runners: exploring the interplay of heart rate, performance and sports habits

The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is an indicator that uses numerical scales and verbal and/or visual descriptors and is used at a sports level to determine the intensities of physical exercise.The objetive of this study was to examine the relationships between the RPE among runners and various factors including age, gender, BMI, average heart rate (HRmean), maximum heart rate (HRmax), performance and sports habits. The ultimate goal was to advocate for the use of the CR-10 test as a means of monitoring effort levels in athletes. The study comprised a sample size 278 participants. The normal distribution of data was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test, while the Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to compare the variables. To verify the association between variables, Spearman’s coefficient and principal component analysis (PCA) were used. In the PCA, three components were obtained that explain 57.4% of the variance; RPE is grouped with HRmax and HRmean, while age and volume of weekly training are grouped by the other. The performance variables (final time in race; r=-0.151, p<0.05) and physiological variables (HRmax; r= 0.223 p<0.05), show correlation with respect to RPE levels. There are also correlation between age/BMI, age/ HRmax, HRmax/HRmean and final time in race/PA volume training. The results indicate that there were no significant differences in RPE levels between trained and untrained runners during the race, or between regular runners with different training volumes. It could be concluded that the use of the Borg CR10 scale could be used in sport as a useful instrument for establishing the degree of intensity of exercise during physical exertion, irrespective of level.