First Name:
Anthony
Last Name:
Pastore
Major Department:
Biology and Psychology
Thesis Director:
Jeffrey McBride
Date of Thesis:
May 2013
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) scales to intensity and fatigue as well as blood lactate concentrations during resistance exercise. Twelve male subjects (age: 21.4 ± 1.7 years, body mass: 77.6 ± 10.3 kg, height: 176.8 ± 4.8 cm, 1RM: 119.8 ± 22.7 kg) knowledgeable in resistance exercise performed 6 sets of traditional back squats at 3 different loads of their one-repetition max (1RM) (50%, 70%, and 90%) to volitional failure and to a predetermined number of repetitions (3). RPE and blood lactate concentrations were collected at the end of each set using Borg’s 6-20 scale. Fatigue Index was calculated by dividing the number of repetitions completed (3) by the number of repetitions each individual completed to failure in order to elicit a ratio of fatigability for each set. RPE values did not correlate to intensity, but did show a strong relationship to fatigue index. RPE relates to fatigue but not intensity in resistance exercise. Blood lactate concentrations did not have a strong correlation to RPE or intensity and were only statistically different when sets were completed to failure.