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QUANTIFYING TRAINING LOADS DURING HIGH INTENSITY FUNCTIONAL TRAINING: SESSION-RPE METHOD

Abstract

Justin A. DeBlauw 1, Derek A. Crawford 2, Nicholas B. Drake 3, Michael J. Carper 2 and Katie M. Heinrich 1

1Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; 2 Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, 3University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

High intensity functional training (HIFT), due to its constant variance and multi-modal approach presents a unique challenge in quantifying external loads. The session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) method has been shown valid in determining training loads (TL) in a variety of sports. However, sRPE has yet to be psychometrically evaluated within HIFT. PURPOSE: To estimate the psychometric properties of the sRPE method within HIFT. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy, recreationally active men (n=13; age = 22.6 ± 3.5 years; body mass = 86.1 ± 13.9 kg; height = 182.8 ± 8.1 cm) and women (n=12; age = 21.0 ± 1.5 years; body mass = 70.5 ± 11.3 kg; height = 165.6 ± 5.7 cm) participated in six weeks (5 d∙ week -1) of HIFT. Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout each training session and rate of perceived exertion was recorded immediately following daily workouts completion. Daily TL was quantified using sRPE and compared to two heart rate-based criterion methods (i.e., Edwards’ TL and Banister’s TRIMP). RESULTS: In training block 1 (i.e., weeks 1-3), sRPE significantly predicted both Edwards’ TL (n = 271, r = 0.81, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.60–0.73) and TRIMP (n = 260, r = 0.43, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.10–0.27). In training block 2 (weeks 4-6), these associations remained significant but also improved in their predictive capability for both Edwards’ TL (n = 268, r = 0.88, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.73–0.82) and TRIMP (n = 258, r = 0.57, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.23–0.42). However, reliability estimates (n = 554, ICC = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.52–0.63, p < 0.001; CoA = 52%) between perceived exertion and HR were generally poor. CONCLUSION: We observed the sRPE method was a valid tool across individual, group, and sex levels when compared to criterion heart rate-based measures. However, the utility of this strategy within HIFT is limited due to poor reliability in participants’ abilities to correctly match their perceived exertion with the relative level of physiological effort (i.e., percentile of maximum heart rate). Over time, however, these participants demonstrated the ability to improve agreement between perceived and actual effort. Future investigations should continue to explore the potential utility of this monitoring strategy with HIFT interventions.

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