Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
07:22
Measuring the Motor Aspect of Cancer-Related Fatigue using a Handheld Dynamometer
Published on: February 20, 2020
Perception of fatigue during simulated competition
Trent Joseph1, Blair Johnson, Rebecca A Battista
1Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|January 19, 2008
Summary
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) increases proportionally with exercise distance, regardless of total distance or hypoxia. This suggests effort perception is scalar, integrating physiological signals during endurance exercise.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Human Performance
Background:
- Previous research indicates Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scales with time to fatigue during steady-state exercise.
- This suggests RPE integrates physiological status and homeostatic disturbances, acting as a scalar measure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the rate of change in RPE and relative distance in cycling time trials of 2.5, 5, and 10 km.
- To assess RPE changes during 5-km time trials under hypoxic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Well-conditioned cyclists completed randomized time trials at various distances.
- RPE was measured at 10% increments of distance.
- Hypoxic conditions were introduced during specific segments of 5-km time trials.
Main Results:
- RPE increased similarly with relative distance across different time trial lengths (2.5, 5, 10 km).
- Hypoxia did not alter the proportional increase in RPE relative to distance covered.
- An RPE of 5 was reached at 20% and RPE 8 at 80% of the distance.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the hypothesis that RPE increases consistently with relative distance, irrespective of the total distance or environmental conditions like hypoxia.
- Findings suggest that the perception of effort possesses scalar properties, reliably reflecting physiological load over relative exercise duration.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective response...
01:21Fatigue
Fatigue occurs when materials rupture under repeated or fluctuating loads, even at stress levels far below their static breaking strength. It typically results in brittle failure, even for ductile materials. It is a critical consideration in designing machines and structural components subjected to repetitive or varying loads. The nature of these loadings can range from fluctuating loads like unbalanced pump impellers causing vibrations to repeatedly bending a thin steel rod wire back and forth...
01:22Fatigue Strength of Concrete
Fatigue, in the context of materials science and engineering, refers to the weakening or failure of a material caused by repeatedly applied loads, even if these loads are below the strength limit of the material. Fatigue strength in concrete is a critical property that influences its durability and longevity. Concrete can fail in two ways due to fatigue. Static fatigue or creep rupture occurs under a constant load or one that increases slowly. The other failure mode is due to cyclical or...
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...