Abstract

Ratings of perceived exertion by the Borg psychophysical scale have been made on 26 men and 30 woman aged 60 to 70 yr. All were volunteers for a pre-retirement exercise programme. During progressive bicycle ergometer exer- cise lines relating the ratings of exertion to heart rate were closely similarin men and women, scores at all heart rates being 2 or 3 units higher than in young adults. A brief progressive exercise protocol on the treadmill yielded somewhat lower ratings than bicycle ergometer work, the discrepancy being marked in women. At any given oxygen intake, ratings were higher for females than males and higher for old than young subjects. However, when oxygen intake was expressed as a percentage of the directly measured maximum oxygen intake, scores became independent of sex and age. A 34-wk. period of conditioning substantially reduced heart rates but hat little effect on the perception of effort at a given work load. This unexpected result may reflect a closer approximation of core and skin temperatures with reduction of subcutaneous fat. Verf.-Referat