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Differences between Males and Females in Determining Exercise Intensity.
Jozelyn Rascon1, Elizabeth Trujillo1, Francisco Morales-AcuÑa1
1Clinical Applied Physiology Laboratory, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas-El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA.
International Journal of Exercise Science
|October 12, 2020
Summary
Sex differences exist in exercise intensity measures. While heart rate and oxygen consumption vary, blood lactate and % power output may serve as reliable sex-independent exercise intensity markers.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Human Performance
Background:
- Traditional exercise intensity measures like heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), power output (PO), oxygen consumption (VO2), and blood lactate (BL) are often used irrespective of sex.
- Physiological differences between males and females may influence the validity of these sex-independent measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and identify sex-specific differences in various exercise intensity models.
- To determine which physiological markers of exercise intensity are consistent between males and females.
Main Methods:
- Thirty healthy young adults (15 females) completed two testing sessions.
- A graded exercise test (GXT) on a bicycle determined peak PO and VO2max, with BL measurements.
- Three steady-state workloads (low, moderate, high) were established based on BL, and HR, RPE, PO, VO2, and BL were recorded.
Main Results:
- Heart rate (%HRmax) and power output (%POmax) differed significantly between sexes at certain intensities, with females exhibiting higher HR for similar %PO.
- Oxygen consumption (VO2, %VO2max) also showed sex-specific differences at specific intensities.
- Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), %PO, and blood lactate (BL) levels did not significantly differ between sexes across all tested intensities.
Conclusions:
- Standard exercise intensity markers, including HR, %HRmax, PO, VO2, and %VO2max, demonstrate significant sex-based variations.
- Blood lactate levels and % power output emerge as potentially reliable and sex-independent indicators for monitoring exercise intensity.
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