Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between Borg's Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale (Appendix; 6) and heart rate responses produced with the Queens College Step Test (1). Resources required to perform this test included a stopwatch, a metronome, a 16.25 inch step, and an assistant. To conduct the test the subject steps up and down in cadence with the metronome for 3 minutes with the males stepping at a rate of 24 steps/min and females at a rate of 22 steps/min. At each minute the subject is asked to use the RPE scale, from 6 to 20, to describe how hard they feel they are working at that time. Within 5 seconds after the conclusion of the test, the subject's heart rate was recorded for 15 seconds and multiplied by 4 to find their heart rate. The results were then statistically compared to depict what kind of correlation existed between these two sets of data. The mean RPE and HR for the first minute of the test were 9.88±2.04 and 141.69±20.16 respectively. The second minute was 11.66±2.16 and 153.78±16.78, and the third minute was 12.97±2.10 and 158.47±18.01. The correlation coefficient was very small. R2 for the first minute was 0.2096, the second minute was 0.1253, and the third minute was 0.1194.
