34 The relationship between heart rate and RPE in land and water-based exercising

<h3>Background</h3> Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase Four (CRIV) has traditionally prescribed land-based exercising however , the potential exists for water-based exercising using RPE to maintain a moderate intensity. <h3>Aim</h3> To investigate the relationship between Heart Rate (HR) and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) in Land and Water-based environments. <h3>Methods</h3> Fifty-four participants currently exercising in CRIV Land classes, or similar age-matched populations from aquatic classes were recruited: Male Land-based (CRIV) group (<i>n</i> = 16), Male Water-based group (<i>n</i> = 14). Female Land-based (CRIV) group (<i>n</i> = 12), Female water-based group (<i>n</i> = 12) and participated in a twice weekly, four-week programme standardised for exercises and time across both environments. HR was measured continuously by means of Suunto® chest mounted heart rate monitors; RPE was recorded using the Borg 6-20 scale. Data for each of the eight exercises was analysed using repeated measures (ANOVA) tests to determine any difference between water and land exercise environment. Spearman’s rho correlation co-efficient tests (<i>r</i>) were conducted to examine the strength of association between HR and RPE. Statistical significance was accepted as <i>P</i> ≤0.05. <h3>Results</h3> Overall, there was no difference between Land and Water-based exercise HR response in males or females (<i>P</i> &gt;0.05). Female HR response was consistently higher than males for all exercises in Land and Water-based exercise (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05). In general, RPE was weakly correlated with HR in Land and Water for males and females. however, visual analysis of data showed that workload was generally accurately perceived. <h3>Conclusion</h3> When using a standardised exercise regimen, exercising in water environments can elicit comparable exercising workloads when compared to Land in CRIV and similar populations. Females reported higher heart rates than males in both Land and Water classes, suggesting the exercise elicited a greater absolute workload in females. However, RPE was not consistently higher in females compared to males in all eight exercises.