Heart rate-perceived exertion relationship during training and taper

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Cycling Performance

Background:

• The relationship between heart rate (HR) and perceived exertion (RPE) is crucial for monitoring training load.
• Understanding how this relationship changes during high-intensity training and subsequent taper is vital for optimizing athletic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the alterations in the HR-RPE relationship during a high-intensity training block and a subsequent taper in collegiate cyclists.
• To identify if changes in the HR-RPE relationship can predict performance outcomes following a taper.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 11 collegiate cyclists undergoing 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training followed by a 1-week taper.
• Graded exercise tests (GXTs) were conducted throughout the training and taper periods, with HR and RPE recorded at each stage.
• Performance response to the taper was assessed, and its correlation with changes in the HR-RPE and HR-power output relationships was analyzed.

Main Results:

• The HR-RPE relationship demonstrated a significant change over the training period, with higher RPEs reported for a given HR towards the end of training.
• Changes in the HR-RPE relationship and decreases in HR for a given power output were the strongest predictors of performance response to the taper.
• Individuals reporting higher RPEs for lower HRs and exhibiting larger changes in the HR-power output relationship showed better performance outcomes post-taper (r=0.72 and r=0.76, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Altered HR-RPE relationships during high-intensity training can indicate the degree of overreaching needed for a beneficial taper response.
• The HR-RPE ratio serves as a practical tool for coaches and athletes to monitor training-induced fatigue.
• This metric aids in tailoring training and taper periods for improved cycling performance.