Exertion subjective perception response during resistance exercise is dependent on the type of muscular action

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to verify the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) response to different muscle actions during the bench press exercise (BP). Eight voluntary were submitted to the following measurements: a) anthropometric measures, b) maximal voluntary contraction (1RM) in the BP, c) eight repetitions doing either eccentric (AE), concentric (AC) or combined actions (ACB), at an intensity correspondent to 90% 1RM test. After each of these sessions the RPE was measured through the OMNI-scale (0-10). The RPE during AE (6 ± 1) was statistically lower than AC (10 ± 1) and ACB (10 ± 0) (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between AC and ACB (p > 0.05). These results indicate that the RPE during resistance exercise is action-dependent, because possibly the AE results in lower neural, mechanic and metabolic when compared to AC and ACB.