Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to measure effort during different types of resistance training.
Method: Fifteen male subjects (age 26.7 +/- 4.3 years) performed 3 protocols. All protocols consisted of same 5 exercises but with different intensities, rest periods, and numbers of repetitions. One-repetition maximum (1-RM) was defined as the maximal amount of weight that an individual could lift 1 time without support. The strength protocol included 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 90% of 1-RM with 3 min rest between. The hypertrophy session included 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% with 1 min of rest, and the power session included 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 50% with 3 min of rest. Session RPE is a modification of the standard RPE scale. Session and standard RPE were measured after the completion of each set and 30 min postexercise, respectively.
Results: Results showed a difference between both the 2 RPE values of the strength and hypertrophy protocols (P ? .05) but no difference between mean and session RPE values for the power protocol. During the familiarization session, session RPE was measured at 5-min intervals for 30 min postexercise. There was a significant difference (P ? .05) between the mean RPE values at the fifth and tenth min postexercise when compared with 30 min postexercise. All other session RPE values showed no significant difference.
Conclusion: The session RPE method appears to be effective in monitoring different types of resistance training, and session RPE after 30 min was a better indicator of the overall resistance sessions than average RPE.