Rating of Perceived Exertion and Velocity Relationships Among Trained Males and Females in the Front Squat and Hexagonal Bar Deadlift

Odgers, JB, Zourdos, MC, Helms, ER, Candow, DG, Dahlstrom, B, Bruno, P, and Sousa, CA. Rating of perceived exertion and velocity relationships among trained males and females in the front squat and hexagonal bar deadlift. J Strength CondRes 35(2S): S23-S30, 2021-This study examined the accuracy of intraset rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to predict repetitions in reserve (RIR) during sets to failure at 80% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) on the front squat and high-handle hexagonal bar deadlift (HHBD). Furthermore, the relationship betweenRPE and average concentric velocity (ACV) during the sets to failurewas also determined. Fourteenmales (2966 years, front squat relative 1RM: 1.78 +/- 0.2 kg.kg(-1), and HHBD relative 1RM: 3.0 +/- 0.1 kg.kg(-1)) and 13 females (30 +/- 5 years, front squat relative 1RM: 1.60 +/- 0.2 kg.kg(-1), and HHBD relative 1RM: 2.560.3 kg.kg(-1)) visited the laboratory 3 times. The first visit tested 1RMon both exercises. During visits 2 and 3, which were performed in a counterbalanced order, subjects performed 4 sets to failure at 80% of 1RM for both exercises. During each set, subjects verbally indicated when they believed they were at 6 and 9 on the RIRbased RPE scale, and ACV was assessed during every repetition. The difference between the actual and predicted repetitions performedwas recorded as the RPE difference (RPEDIFF). The RPEDIFF was significantly (p < 0.001) lower at the called 9 RPE versus the called 6 RPE in the front squat formales (9 RPE: 0.09 +/- 0.19 versus 6 RPE: 0.71 +/- 0.70) and females (9RPE: 0.19 +/- 0.36 versus 6 RPE: 0.8660.88) and in theHHBD formales (9RPE: 0.2560.46 versus 6 RPE: 1.00 +/- 1.12) and females (9RPE: 0.21 +/- 0.44 versus 6 RPE: 1.19 +/- 1.16). Significant inverse relationships existed between RPE and ACV during both exercises (r = -0.98 to -1.00). These results indicate that well-trained males and females can gauge intraset RPE accurately during moderate repetition sets on the front squat and HHBD.

Automated summary

The study found that trained males and females can accurately assess intraset RPE during front squats and high-handle hexagonal bar deadlifts, and predict repetitions based on the relationship between RPE and ACV.