Correlation of Various Heart Rate Measures and Borg CR10 Ratings within the First Five Minutes of Moderate- and Vigorous-Intensity Exercise

Aerobic exercise is a crucial component of an individual’s health regimen. Target heart rate (HR), using HR, percentage of maximum HR, or percentage of HR reserve offers an objective manner to gauge exercise intensity. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) using either the traditional or modified scale (Borg CR10) offer a subjective option for measuring individual exercise intensity. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the relationship of various HR measures with subjective report of exercise intensity via the Borg CR10 scale during the first five minutes of exercise geared towards moderate and vigorous intensity. Thirty-four college-aged participants completed two rounds of graded exercise on the PhysioCycle while HR was assessed via HR sensors. Heart rate and Borg CR10 values were obtained at each minute of exercise. Concerning results, there was a weak, positive correlation between HR and Borg CR10 (r = 0.27, p=.003) during exercise to moderate intensity and a strong, positive correlation between HR and Borg CR10 (r = 0.60,