Emily Matis, Utah Valley University
Exercise Science
Introduction:
The most effective exercise takes place within an ideal heart rate zone that varies based on an individual’s age and fitness level. On the low end, an individual doesn’t benefit from exercise that isn’t sufficiently rigorous, i.e., without a high enough heart rate. On the other end “if an individual’s heart rate is too high” they won’t be able to exercise long enough to get the ideal benefit. As a result, use of a heart rate monitor is very important for those who are not able to accurately estimate their heart rate. This research will examine the correlation during exercise between actual Heart Rate (HR), estimated HR, and Rates of Perceived of Exertion (RPE) for college students enrolled in co-ed Fitness for Life classes at Utah Valley University.
Methods:
Target participation is 100 Fitness for Life students, with an equal amount of males and females. Participants will fill out a demographic questionnaire. They then will be educated about the Borg RPE scale, the method by which they will report their RPE. The Borg scale ranges from 6 (no exertion) to 20 (maximum exertion). Subjects will be properly fitted with HR monitors, and then exercise on either a treadmill or track for 20 to 25 minutes. During the exercise, they will be asked every 5 minutes to report 1) their estimated HR; and 2) their RPE on the Borg scale. The HR monitors will record their actual HR. This research project was pre-approved by the UVU Institutional Review Board (IRB) with reference number 00850.
Results:
Statistical Package for the social sciences (SPSS) will be used to determine correlation or differences between actual HR, predicted HR, and RPE; and identify any significant demographic factors. We are currently still collecting data.
Discussion:
We hypothesize that typical Fitness for Life students do not accurately estimate their HR or their rate of exertion. The results could be very helpful in the administration of Fitness for Life and other classes. For example, if the hypothesis is correct, it underscores the importance of 1) providing improved HR instruction, and 2) students receiving and using heart rate monitors during exercise. Further research could focus on the extent to which use of the HR monitors improves a student’s ability to more accurately estimate their HR and RPE. The ultimate goal is to help the students of UVU become more aware of their own fitness levels and improve the effectiveness of their exercise.