Perceived exertion can be lower when exercising in field versus indoors

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Environmental Psychology

Background:

• Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) is often lower in outdoor exercise settings compared to laboratory conditions.
• The impact of environmental stimuli, such as traffic and urban elements, on RPE during cycling is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if cycle commuters perceive lower exertion during their commutes compared to laboratory cycling at equivalent exercise intensities.
• To explore the influence of environmental stimuli in cycle commuting on RPE.

Main Methods:

• Twenty commuter cyclists completed RPE, heart rate (HR), and oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2) measurements in both laboratory and field settings.
• Linear regression equations were established in the lab to predict RPE from HR reserve (%HRR) and maximal oxygen uptake (%[Formula: see text]O2max).
• Predicted RPE from lab data was compared to RPE during actual cycle commutes at matched intensities.

Main Results:

• Cycle commuters reported significantly lower RPE for breathing (12.6 vs. 14.0-14.2) and legs (11.5 vs. 14.0-14.2) during commutes compared to laboratory cycling at equal intensities.
• Field intensities at equal RPE were 19-30% lower in terms of %HRR and %[Formula: see text]O2max compared to predicted intensities.

Conclusions:

• Cycle commuters perceive lower exertion during their commutes than during laboratory ergometer cycling at the same intensity.
• Increased external stimuli in the field environment may contribute to the reduced perceived exertion.