Attenuated RPE and leg pain in response to short-term high-intensity interval training

This study examined the effect of 6 days of high intensity interval training (HIT) on rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and leg pain. Eleven men (age and VO(2)max=25.3±5.5 year and 45.6± mL/kg/min) and 9 women (age and VO(2)max=25.2±3.1 year and 41.1±6.1 mL/kg/min) with similar activity level and VO(2)max underwent HIT consisting of repeated Wingate tests separated by 5 min recovery over a 2-3 week period. Five men and four women served as controls and did not perform HIT. Four minutes after each bout across all days of training, RPE and leg pain were recorded using categorical scales. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to assess differences in RPE and leg pain in response to acute bouts and days of HIT. Data revealed that RPE and pain increased (p<0.05) after bout 1 to after bout 4. Compared to day 1 (6.3±1.9), RPE after bout 4 (5.0±1.4) decreased (p=0.001) in response to 6d of HIT. Training significantly reduced (p<0.05) leg pain, as pain declined from day 1 (6.20±2.29) of HIT versus day 6 (5.20±2.04). Data show that RPE and leg pain are significantly attenuated by 6 d of HIT, which is likely due to the physiological adaptations accrued in response to this modality of training.