The perception of exertion is defined as the subjective intensity of effort, strain, discomfort, and/ or fatigue that is experienced during physical exercise. Scientific and clinical inquiry regarding the perceptual milieu associated with phvsical exertion was first undertaken in the 1960s by Gunnar A. V. Borg, a Swedish psychologist. Borg studied perceptions experienced during exercise using an adaptation of Stevens` law that states that human sensation grows as a power function of a physical stimulus [71]. An outgrowth of Borg`s early work was the development and validation of a series of psychophysical category scales to quantify exertional perceptions associated with a wide range of physical activities. A distinguishing feature of these category scales is that they are easily administered and interpreted, facilitating interindividual comparisons of sensory processing during exercise. Versions of Borg's scales have been adapted for use in clinical and research settings throughout many parts of the world. Since Borg's pioneering work, the discipline of perceived exertion has focused on three primary areas: (a) development and validation of perceptual scaling methodology; (b) laboratory experiments to identify physiological and psychological mediators of the effort sense; and (c) clinical, sports, and pedagogical applications. Research in these three areas has proceeded more or less in concert, undertaken by physiologists, psychologists, clinicians, and physical educators. This chapter presents a synthesis of both experimental and clinical research in the areas of perceived exertion methods, mediators, and applications.
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