Influence of terminal RPE on session RPE

Session Rating of Perceived Exertion Is a Valid Method to Monitor Intensity of Exercise in Adults with Acute Burn Injuries

Measuring exercise intensity for safety and to inform prescription in acute burn survivors, is challenging. This study aimed to assess the validity of adult patient end-of-workout rating of session perceived exertion (sRPE); and calculated training load (TL) (sRPE × session duration) as measures of exercise intensity. Secondly, the study aimed to compare clinician and patient perception of exercise effort during physiotherapist-led sessions. Repeated RPE data were collected every 5-min during two resistance exercise sessions completed by 25 burns patients. Physiological (heart rate [HR], blood lactate [BLa]) and perceptual measures (sRPE, ratings of pain, fatigue, delayed onset muscle soreness, sleep quality and stress) were also captured. Adjusted, multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the associations between sRPE and TL and significant predictor variables. Paired t-tests were performed to compare clinician and participant sRPE. Results: Average RPE calculated from 5-min repeats, after adjustment for age and %TBSA, was significantly associated with sRPE, F(1, 45) = 100.82, (p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.64) and TL, F(1, 45) = 33.66, (p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.39). No significant differences between patient and clinician sRPE were apparent (p = 0.948). Thus, one-off reporting of sRPE and calculated TL may be appropriate markers to monitor exercise intensity and aid prescription in individuals with burn injuries, regardless of patient and burn characteristics or time since burn. There was also no difference between patient and clinician's perceptions of exercise effort.

Effects of Contextual Variables on Match Load in a Professional Soccer Team Attending to the Different Season Periods

This study aimed to analyze the effects of contextual variables (i.e., match location and match outcome) and season periods on match load (i.e., internal and external load) in professional Brazilian soccer players. Thirty-six professional players from the same soccer team participated in this study. The season was split into four phases: matches 1-16 (i.e., Phase 1 = P1); matches 17-32 (i.e., Phase 2 = P2); matches 33-48, (i.e., Phase 3 = P3); matches 49-65 (i.e., Phase 4 = P4). Considering match outcome, when the team wins, Cognitive load, Emotional load, and Affective load were significantly higher in away vs. home matches (p < 0.05). Considering season phases, in P3, Mental Fatigue was significantly higher in drawing than in losing matches (p < 0.05). Additionally, considering the match outcome, when the team lost, Total Distance (TD)/min and TD > 19 km·h-1/min were significantly lower in P1 than P2 (p < 0.001), P3 (p < 0.001), and P4 (p < 0.001). These results suggest to strength and conditioning coaches the need to consider the outcome and location of the previous game when planning the week, as well as the phase of the season they are in to reduce fatigue and injury risk.

A meta-analysis of the criterion-related validity of Session-RPE scales in adolescent athletes

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to establish the criterion-related validity of the session-rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) method in adolescent athletes.

METHODS

According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines, a meta-analysis (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022373126) was performed using Stata 15.1 software. Eight databases using the following terms: ('s-RPE' OR 'Rating Perceived Exertion session' OR 'RPE session' OR 'RPE' OR 'Rate of Perceived Exertion' OR 'Rated of Perceived Exertion') AND ('Adolescen*' OR 'Youth*' OR 'Teen*') AND ('validity' OR 'correlation' OR 'concurrent validity') were searched up to 2022. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were screened and adopted the "Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS)" to evaluate the risk of bias.

RESULTS

An initial 1798 studies using the s-RPE method were identified and finally, a total of 16 studies were included for further analysis. The relationship between assessment instruments CR-10 or CR-100 modified methods of s-RPE and the heart rate measures of these selected studies were calculated using correlation coefficient (r values) and Fisher's z-score. A strong to very strong correlation between s-RPE and HR was observed (overall: r = 0.74; CR-10: r = 0.69; CR-100: r = 0.80). CR-100 scale (Fisher's z = 1.09) was shown to have a higher criterion validity than that of the CR-10 scale (Fisher's z = 0.85).

CONCLUSION

Preliminary findings showed that s-RPE using either CR-10 or CR-100 scales can be used "stand-alone" for monitoring internal training load for children and adolescent athletes. Future studies should focus on whether CR-100 could better perform than CR-10 for junior and children athletes in different age groups and sports as well as the causes leading to potential scoring biases.

The relationship between wellness and training and match load in professional male soccer players

The aims of this study were to: (i) analyse the within-microcycle variations in professional soccer players; (ii) analyse the relationships between wellness and training and match load demands; (iii) analyse the relationships between match-day (MD) demands and wellness during the following day (MD+1); and (iv) analyse the relationships between MD and wellness during the day before match-play (MD-1). Thirteen professional soccer players (age: 24.85±3.13 years) were monitored daily over 16-weeks for wellness and training and match-play intensity. The daily wellness measures included fatigue, quality of sleep, muscle soreness, mood and stress using a 1-5 scale. Internal intensity was subjectively measured daily using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and the multiplication of RPE by session duration (s-RPE). While external intensity was quantified utilising high-speed running, sprinting, and acceleration and deceleration metrics. Data was analysed from each training session before (i.e., MD-5) or after the match (i.e., MD+1). Repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman ANOVA was used to analyse the aims (i) where Spearman correlation was applied to analyse the relationships between the aims (ii) and (iii) between sleep quality and training intensity. The main results for aim (i) showed that MD+1 presented the lowest values for wellness variables (p < 0.05). While MD-1 presented the lowest internal and external load values (for all variables), with MD presenting the highest values (p < 0.05). Regarding aim (ii), the main result showed significant large negative correlations between fatigue and s-RPE (r = -0.593; p = 0.033). Considering aim (iii), significant small to very large negative correlations were found for sleep quality, fatigue and muscle soreness with all internal and external variables (p < 0.05). Lastly, the main results for aim (iv) showed large negative correlations for fatigue and session duration; fatigue and s-RPE; muscle soreness and session duration; muscle soreness and s-RPE; and muscle soreness and decelerations (p < 0.05, for all). The main conclusions were that MD had an influence on wellness and internal and external training intensity, notably MD-1 and MD+1 were most affected. In this regard, a tendency of higher internal and external intensity on MD was associated with lower wellness measures of sleep quality, muscle soreness and fatigue on MD+1.

Fatigue and Training Load Factors in Volleyball

The purpose of this article was to determine the internal and external loads experienced by volleyball players in a weekly cycle during the competitive season. Using accelerometers, as well as subjective rating perceived exertion (RPE) and total quality recovery scale (TQR) questionnaires, eleven female athletes were monitored during five days of training sessions over the course of the 2021 season. The data were evaluated for trends during the start period in preparation for the championship tournament. Analysis of the accelerometer data revealed a relationship between RPE and session rating perceived exertion (s-RPE), as well as the number of total accelerations. It was reported that on the training days of the same well-being level, the jump number values were significantly different. The results suggest that monitoring athletes for the number of accelerations can be used to understand the needs of volleyball players and to improve the design of training and recovery days to optimize athletes' well-being.

The Global Session Metric Score (GSMs): A Modified Session-Specific Exertional Index

Monitoring session training load to optimize the training stress that drives athlete adaptation and subsequent performance, is fundamental to periodization and programming. Analyzing the internal load experienced by the individual in response to the external load prescribed by coaching staff is crucial to avoid overtraining and optimize training adaptation. Subjective measures provide more information regarding individual training load, as heart rate measures alone do not account for collisions, eccentric muscle actions, muscle soreness, weather conditions, or accumulated training loads, which are paramount to the athlete experience. However, the current subjective metric for interpreting session training load (sRPE) is poorly shaped to the athlete's global response to the whole session, often showing poorer correlations to heart rate (HR) measures during intermittent or high-intensity activity. This study introduces a new metric, the Global Session Metric Score (GSMs), which creates a symmetrical relation between the verbal descriptor and numeric values, as well as more applicable session-specific verbal descriptors for the highest level of exertion. Twenty-four D1 male college soccer field players (age: 20.5 +/– 1.42) wore HR monitors and reported GSMs for all practices and games within an entire season. Linear regression with 10-fold cross validation was used to test the relation between GSMs with B-TRIMP and E-TRIMP, respectively. These models demonstrate good performance with consistency and reliability in the estimation of GSMs to predict both B-TRIMP (R² = 0.75–0.77) and E-TRIMP (R² = 0.76–0.78). The findings show promise for the GSMs index as a reliable means for measuring load in both training and matches during a high-intensity intermittent team sport. Future studies should directly compare GSMs to the existing sRPE scale within a controlled laboratory setting and across various other sports. GSMs provides coaches and clinicians a simple and cost-effective alternative to heart rate monitors, as well as a proficient measure of internal training load experienced by the individual.

Quantifying Training Load During Physically Demanding Tasks in U.S. Army Soldiers: A Comparison of Physiological and Psychological Measurements

INTRODUCTION

There are many ways to quantify the training loads required to perform soldiering tasks. Although indirect calorimetry may provide the most accurate measures, the equipment can be burdensome and expensive. Simpler measures may provide sufficient data, while being more practical for measuring soldiers in the field. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between total relative oxygen uptake (TotalRelVO2) measured by indirect calorimetry during three soldiering tasks, with two field-expedient measures of training load: summated heart rate zone (sumHR) and session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

33 male and 28 female soldiers performed three soldiering tasks while wearing a 32.3-kg fighting load: sandbag fill, sandbag carry, and ammunition can carry. Metabolic measurements were monitored and completion times were recorded (min). TotalRelVO2 (average relative VO2*time) and age-predicted maximal heart rate (220-age) were calculated. SumHR was calculated by multiplying time spent in each of the five heart rate zones by a multiplier factor for each zone (50-59% = 1, 60-69% = 2, 70-79% = 3, 80-89% = 4, and ≥90% = 5). RPE (Borg 6-20 scale) was collected at the end of each task, then sRPE was calculated (RPE*time). Pearson and Spearman correlations were performed to examine the relationship between TotalRelVO2, sumHR and sRPE. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were conducted to determine if there was a difference in median rankings between the three variables for each task. Linear regressions were performed to determine predictability of TotalRelVO2 from sumHR and sRPE. The study was approved by the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine Institutional Review Board.

RESULTS

Significant, positive correlations were revealed for all three tasks between TotalRelVO2, sumHR and sRPE (r ≥ 0.67, p ≤ 0.01; rho≥0.74, p ≤ 0.01). Wilcoxon signed rank tests revealed no significant differences in rankings between TotalRelVO2, sumHR and sRPE for all three tasks (p ≥ 0.43). Both sumHR and sRPE are significant predictors of TotalRelVO2 (p ≤ 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

SumHR and sRPE are acceptable alternatives to TotalRelVO2 when attempting to quantify and/or monitor training load during soldiering tasks.

Incorporating Internal and External Training Load Measurements in Clinical Decision Making After ACL Reconstruction: A Clinical Commentary

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Poor outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr), including the relatively high risk of suffering a subsequent ACL injury, suggest the need to optimize rehabilitation and return-to-sport testing. The purpose of this commentary is to introduce clinicians to the concept of monitoring training load during rehabilitation, to review methods of quantifying internal and external loads, and to suggest ways that these technologies can be incorporated into rehabilitation progressions and return-to-sport decisions after anterior ACLr.

DESCRIPTION OF TOPIC WITH RELATED EVIDENCE

Quantifying and identifying the effects of training load variables, external (distance, impacts, decelerations) and internal (heart rate, heart rate variability) workload, during rehabilitation can indicate both positive (improved physical, physiological, or psychological capacity) or negative (heightened risk for injury or illness) adaptations and allow for the ideal progression of exercise prescription. When used during return-to-sport testing, wearable technology can provide robust measures of movement quality, readiness, and asymmetry not identified during performance-based testing.

DISCUSSION / RELATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Researchers have reported the actual in-game demands of men and women of various ages and competition levels during multi-directional sport. Wearable technology can provide similar variables during rehabilitation, home exercise programs, and during on-field transition back to sport to ensure patients have met the expected fitness capacity of their sport. Additionally, clinicians can use internal load measures to objectively monitor patient's physiological responses to rehabilitation progressions and recovery rather than relying on subjective patient-reported data.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.

25 Years of Session Rating of Perceived Exertion: Historical Perspective and Development

The session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) method was developed 25 years ago as a modification of the Borg concept of rating of perceived exertion (RPE), designed to estimate the intensity of an entire training session. It appears to be well accepted as a marker of the internal training load. Early studies demonstrated that sRPE correlated well with objective measures of internal training load, such as the percentage of heart rate reserve and blood lactate concentration. It has been shown to be useful in a wide variety of exercise activities ranging from aerobic to resistance to games. It has also been shown to be useful in populations ranging from patients to elite athletes. The sRPE is a reasonable measure of the average RPE acquired across an exercise session. Originally designed to be acquired ∼30 minutes after a training bout to prevent the terminal elements of an exercise session from unduly influencing the rating, sRPE has been shown to be temporally robust across periods ranging from 1 minute to 14 days following an exercise session. Within the training impulse concept, sRPE, or other indices derived from sRPE, has been shown to be able to account for both positive and negative training outcomes and has contributed to our understanding of how training is periodized to optimize training outcomes and to understand maladaptations such as overtraining syndrome. The sRPE as a method of monitoring training has the advantage of extreme simplicity. While it is not ideal for the precise recording of the details of the external training load, it has large advantages relative to evaluating the internal training load.

Effect of the Cooldown Type on Session Rating of Perceived Exertion

PURPOSE

This study investigated the effect of cooldown modality (active vs passive) and duration (5, 10, and 15 min) on session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). Secondarily, the possible influence of training sessions' demand on this effect was studied.

METHODS

A total of 16 youth male soccer players (15.7 [0.4] y) completed 2 standardized training sessions per week across 6 weeks. During weeks 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6, cooldown lengths of 15, 10, and 5 minutes were studied, respectively. Using a crossover design, players were randomly assigned to 2 groups and each group performed 1 of 2 different cooldown interventions. Passive and active cooldown interventions based on static stretching and running exercises were studied. Heart rate and sRPE were recorded during all training sessions.

RESULTS

The lowest sRPE was observed when passive cooldown was performed. When the hardest training sessions were considered, a significant main effect of cooldown modality (P < .01) and duration (P < .05) and an interaction effect between these variables (P < .05) on sRPE were obtained. The lowest (P < .01) sRPE was observed during the longest cooldown (15 min).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that sRPE may be sensitive to the selected cooldown modality and duration, especially following the most demanding training sessions.

Quantifying Changes in Squat Jump Height Across a Season of Men's Collegiate Soccer

Sams, ML, Sato, K, DeWeese, BH, Sayers, AL, and Stone, MH. Quantifying changes in squat jump height across a season of men's collegiate soccer. J Strength Cond Res 32(8): 2324-2330, 2018-The purposes of this study were to examine the effectiveness of an athlete monitoring program in managing athlete neuromuscular fatigue across a men's collegiate soccer season as measured by changes in squat jump (SJ) height and to compare possible changes with the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) training load (TL). Eighteen outfield Division I men's college soccer players performed SJ testing before each game of the fall season in addition to a baseline measurement at the start of preseason. The athletes provided sRPE values after all training sessions, weight-training, and games. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare changes in SJ height across the season with the baseline, and a correlation coefficient and single-lag cross-correlation coefficient were calculated between TL and changes in SJ height. No statistically significant decreases in SJ height occurred across the season, although a moderate practical decline occurred after the preseason (-1.6 cm, effect size = -0.70). The correlation between TL and changes in SJ height was statistically nonsignificant, whereas the cross-correlation was significant (r = 0.18, p = 0.48 and r = 0.55, p = 0.02, respectively). The athlete monitoring program was successful in managing the athletes' neuromuscular fatigue across the season as evidenced by the maintenance of SJ height and positive relationship between TL and changes in SJ height. Thus, SJ monitoring may serve as a useful fatigue monitoring tool for collegiate soccer athletes. Future study is needed, relating changes in vertical jump performance to other markers of athlete preparedness and performance.

Factors That Influence the Rating of Perceived Exertion After Endurance Training

Purpose: Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) is an often-used measure to assess athletes’ training load (TL). However, little is known about which factors could optimize the quality of data collection thereof. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the survey methods and the time points when sRPE was assessed on the correlation between subjective (sRPE) and objective (heart-rate training impulse; TRIMP) assessment of TL. Methods: In the first part of the study, 45 well-trained subjects (30 men and 15 women) performed 20 running sessions with a heart-rate monitor and reported sRPE 30 min after training cessation. For the reporting, the subjects were grouped into 3 groups (paper–pencil, online questionnaire, and mobile device). In the second part of the study, another 40 athletes (28 men and 12 women) performed 4 × 5 running sessions with the 4 time points to report the sRPE randomly assigned (directly after training cessation, 30 min postexercise, in the evening of the same day, and the next morning directly after waking up). Results: The assessment of sRPE is influenced by time point, survey method, TRIMP, sex, and training type. It is recommended to assess sRPE values via a mobile device or online tool, as the paper survey method displayed lower correlations between sRPE and TRIMP. Conclusions: Subjective TL measures are highly individual. When compared with the same relative intensity, lower sRPE values were reported by women for the training types representing slow runs and for time points with greater duration between training cessation and sRPE assessment. The assessment method for sRPE should be kept constant for each athlete, and comparisons between athletes or sexes are not recommended.

Perceived exertion in coaches and young swimmers with different training experience

Session rating of perceived exertion (SRPE) is a practical method to assess internal training load to provide appropriate stimuli. However, coaches and athletes might rate training sessions differently, which can impair performance development. In addition, SRPE might be influenced by athletes' training experience. The authors studied 160 swimmers of different age groups and different competitive swimming experience and 9 coaches. SRPE was indicated by the swimmers 30 min after the end of a training session and before the training session by the coaches. Training-session intensities were classified into easy (SRPE <3), moderate (SRPE 3-5), and difficult (SRPE >5), based on coaches' perception. We observed that the correlation between coaches' and athletes' SRPE increased with increased age and competitive swimming experience, r = .31 for the 11- to 12-y-old group (P < .001), r = .51 for the 13- to 14-y-old group (P < .001), and r = .74 for the 15- to 16-y-old group (P < .001). In addition, younger swimmers (11-12 y, P < .01; 13-14 y, P < .01) rated training intensity differently from coaches in all 3 categories (easy, moderate, and difficult), while the older group rated differently in only 1 category (difficult, P < .01). These findings suggest that the more experienced swimmers are, the more accurate their SRPE is.