Heart rate and overall ratings of perceived exertion during Spinning ® cycle indoor session in novice adults

• Published in: Science & sports 2010-11, Vol.25 (5), p.238-244
• Main Authors: López-Miñarro, P.A., Muyor Rodríguez, J.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cotations de la perception de l’effort (RPE); Cycling; Cyclisme; Fréquence cardiaque; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart rate; Prescription; Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE); Validity; Validité; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
• ISSN: 0765-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2009.11.003

Spinning ® cycle indoor has become a popular cardiovascular activity for group exercise classes. The purposes of this study were to measure the heart rate (HR) response of novice subjects performing 45-min Spinning ® cycle indoor, and to determine the criterion-related validity of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) as measure of exercise intensity in novice subjects. Fifty-nine subjects ranging from 18 to 38 years (mean ± SD, age: 32.1 ± 10.2 years), were recruited from a private fitness club. HR and overall RPE were measured during the session. The Spinning ® session comprised a warm-up (10 min), and a 25-min trial (cardiovascular phase) of flat, run, seated climb, and standing climb activities followed by a cool down (10 min). The mean values of the percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR) and overall RPE in cardiovascular phase were 71.1 ± 13.7% and 14.2 ± 1.8 points, respectively. The correlation value between overall RPE and %HRR was moderate to weak, but significant ( r = 0.41, p < 0.05). The intensity during indoor cycling class in novice adults ranged from moderate-to-hard values. These data suggest that indoor cycling must be considered a high-intensity exercise mode for novice subjects. The reduced validity obtained for the overall RPE suggests that more studies must be performed before using this scale to regulate exercise intensity in novice adults during indoor cycling class. Le Spinning ®, cyclisme d’intérieur, est devenu une activité cardiovasculaire très populaire dans les centres de fitness. L’objectif de cette étude a été d’évaluer la fréquence cardiaque (FC) et de déterminer la validité de l’échelle de perception subjective de l’effort (RPE), pendant une séance de cyclisme indoor, sur des sujets novices. Cinquante-neuf sujets âgés de 18 à 38 ans, faisant partie d’un centre de fitness, ont participé à cette étude. Pendant la séance, on a mesuré la FC et le niveau de RPE. La séance de Spinning ® était composée d’un échauffement (dix minutes), d’une phase principale de 25 minutes (avec des techniques d’exercices : plat, montagne, assis, montagne debout) et d’un retour au calme de dix minutes. Les valeurs moyennes du pourcentage de FC et RPE moyen dans la phase principale fut de 71,1 ± 13,7 % et 14,2 ± 1,8, respectivement. La corrélation entre la RPE et le pourcentage d’intensité fut modérée mais statistiquement significative ( r = 0,41, p < 0,05). L’intensité atteinte pendant la séance de cyclisme indoor doit être considérée comme un exerci