The use of the Rating of Perceived Exertion and Affect to regulate exercise intensity in sedentary and clinical populations

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC13.62

Authors: Gaynor Parfitt

Abstract:
The intensity of physical activity for clinical populations is typically prescribed by heart rate bandwidths or percentage of maximal capacity. This approach removes participant autonomy, fails to consider individual differences in metabolic function and does not takes into account the daily variability in the patient’s physical and mental state. It is therefore prone to error, and more critically, potentially undermines motivation and processes central to behavior change and physical activity maintenance. This paper will describe how independently and in combination, the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and affect can be used to regulate exercise intensity.

Keywords: motivational processes, exercise intensity, self-regulation, affective state