Date of Award
4-1995
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Human Performance and Health Education
Department
Health, Physical Education & Recreation
First Advisor
Dr. Roger Zabik
Second Advisor
Dr. Mary Dawson
Third Advisor
Dr. Patricia Frye
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The effect of changes in environmental conditions on perception of the intensity of exercise using the Borg scale for rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was the focus of this study. Subjects (n= 10) recruited opportunistically from graduate classes in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department performed the test in a climate control chamber located in the Exercise Physiology lab at Western Michigan University. The submaximal test followed the protocol established by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM, 1991).
Each subject performed each of the four conditions three times. Conditions were assigned in random order to each subject. Perceived exertion, body temperature, and workload were recorded at 55%, 65%, 75%, and 85% of the subject's predicted maximum heart rate (MHR). The conditions performed were (a) 75 °F at 50% humidity, (b) 75 °F at 90% humidity, (c) 85 °F at 50% humidity, and (d) 85 °F at 90% humidity.
Randomized block factorial analyses of variance with repeated measures design was calculated for RPE and workload. To test for trend across the percentages of MHR, orthogonal polynomials were also run on both RPE and workload.
The findings of this study showed that both RPE and workload remained relatively stable under the four environmental conditions tested.
Recommended Citation
Hanselman, Erika E., "The Effect of External Heat and Humidity on Levels of Perceived Exertion While Performing a Submaximal Bicycle Test" (1995). Masters Theses. 4506.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4506