Prediction of Maximal Aerobic Power and Dynamic Muscular Strength Using RPE

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength are important components of health-related physical fitness. The criterion measures for cardiorespiratory fitness and dynamic muscular strength are maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) and one-repetition maximum (1RM), respectively. VO₂max testing requires expensive laboratory equipment and expert personnel. Such maximal intensity testing may require physician clearance or supervision for older, sedentary and/or unfit individuals. 1RM testing requires the performance of multiple resistance exercise sets at near-maximal and maximal intensities and may not be safe for many individuals who are unfamiliar with resistance exercise or who have medical contraindications to high intensity exercise. Therefore, administration of maximal fitness test protocols may not be possible, pragmatic or even desirable in health-fitness and clinical settings. As such, submaximal tests have been developed to predict both VO₂max and 1RM. It is proposed that the use of submaximal test protocols is both safe and cost-effective. Statistical models to predict VO₂max have been based on the positive relation between HR and VO₂ during load-incremented exercise. Models to predict 1RM have been based on the inverse relation between weight lifted and repetitions performed to the point of muscular fatigue. However, both VO₂max and 1RM can be predicted from submaximal RPE. The use of RPE as a predictor variable in such tests is valid, technically simple, and easily understood by most individuals. In addition, submaximal fitness tests including the measurement of RPE can be used as an assessment of training-induced fitness changes. The primary purpose of this laboratory experiment is to predict VO₂max/peak and 1RM from submaximal RPE measured during an estimation protocol exercise test.