Prescribing and Self-Regulating Heated Water-Based Exercise by Rating of Perceived Exertion in Older Individuals With Hypertension

Abstract

We aimed to analyze the usefulness of the 6–20 rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale for prescribing and self-regulating high-intensity interval (HIIE) and moderate-intensity continuous (MICE) aerobic exercise performed in a heated swimming pool (32 °C). Fifteen older individuals (65 ± 3 years) treated for hypertension underwent a symptom-limited maximal graded exercise test to determine their heart rate at anaerobic threshold, and respiratory compensation point. On different days, participants were randomized to HIIE (walking/jogging between 11 and 17 of RPE; 25 min) and MICE (walking at 11–13 of RPE; 30 min). Heart rate during the low-intensity intervals of HIIE and MICE remained below the graded exercise test’s heart rate at anaerobic threshold (−7 ± 18 bpm/−16 ± 15 bpm) and respiratory compensation point (−18 ± 18 bpm/−30 ± 16 bpm), respectively, and maintained in the aerobic training zone during the high-intensity intervals of HIIE (+8 ± 18 bpm/−4 ± 19 bpm). The RPE scale at 15–17 is a useful tool for prescribing and self-regulating heated water-based HIIE and may have important implications for water-based exercise in older individuals with hypertension.