This study investigated the influence of gender and athletic experience on individuals' ratings of their perceived exertion (RPE). Twelve males with high athletic experience, 12 with low athletic experience, 12 females with high athletic experience, and 12 with low athletic experience were recruited from university classes and athletic teams. An estimate of each individual's maximum oxygen uptake (est VO2max) was obtained from a submaximal bicycle ergometer test. Subjects were then presented with ergometer workloads at 30, 50, and 70% of their estimated VO2max. Heart rate readings and RPEs were obtained during each workload presentation. Low athletic experience females were the least accurate in their RPEs, followed by low athletic experience males. High athletic experience males were the most accurate in their RPEs, followed by high athletic experience females. Results indicated that differences in RPE accuracy scores may be influenced by gender but that exposure to athletic experiences appears to override any potential gender differences.
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