What is Rate of Perceived Exertion?
The rate of perceived exertion is a subjective manner of determining how hard a person perceives how hard he is working his body during physical activity. First developed by Swedish professor Gunnar Borg, the rate of perceived exertion centers on the physical sensations a person encounters while exercising, including increased heart rate, breathing rate, and muscle fatigue. The measure, originally based on a 20-point scale and later revised to a 10-point scale, can help provide an approximation of a person’s heart rate. When first introduced, the rate of perceived exertion scale ranged from six to 20. Six was the low end of the scale, meaning virtually no effort was being produced. Conversely, 20 was the highest ranking for physical exertion. A person’s score determined whether he needed to increase or decrease activity.
