Perception of exertion in the elderly, effects of aging, mode of exercise and physical training.

Ratings of perceived exertion by the Borg psychophysical scale have been made on 26 men and 30 women aged 60 to 70 yr. All were volercise lines relating the ratings of exertion to heart rate were closely similar in men and women, scores at all heart rates being 2 or 3 units higher than in young adults. A brief progressive exercise protocol on the treadmill yielded somewhat lower ratings than bicycle ergometer work, the discrepancy being marked in women. At any given oxygen intake, ratings were higher for females than malesy nd higher for old than young subjects. However, when oxygen intake was expressed as a percentage of the directly measured maximum oxygen intake, scores became independent of sex and age. A 35-wk. period of conditioning substantially reduced heart rates but had little effect on the perception of effort at a given work load. This unexpected result may reflect a closer approximation of core and skin temperatures with reduction of sub-cutaneous fat.