The effect of different interval durations on measures of exercise intensity

Abstract

Monitoring training loads during continuous exercise has been validated, however given the importance of interval training, this method (RPE * duration) has not been validated during interval training of different durations. Twelve well trained individuals (m = 6, f = 6) performed an incremental cycle ergometer test to failure and four randomly ordered 30 min tests on a Icde cycle. The four tests were steady state, 30-sec. I-min, and 2-min. with a work relief ratio of 1:1. Workloads were calculated according to the individual anaerobic thresliold (IAT) and physiological variables (HR, RPE, BLa, and VO2) were measured every 10-min. RPE was also acquired 30-min after the exercise bout and multiplied by the duration to obtain a session RPE score. Heart rate data were collected from a Polar Heart Rate Monitor and a summated HR score was calculated. All of the physiological variables behaved similarly during interval training and steady state training by rising from rest to 10-min and then leveling off. The session RPE score and summatcd HR score were compared and found to be closely related suggesting that the summated I-IR score and session RPE are essentially the same. In conclusion, the session I<PE * duration provides a reliable method to rate the intensity of interval training.