PURPOSE: Despite endorsement by various health organizations, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of perceptually regulated exercise training (PRET) as a method of exercise intensity prescription. The purpose of this study was to confirm the efficacy of an 8-wk PRET program clamped at RPE13 to improve aerobic fitness and cardiovascular health. The affective response to this method of exercise prescription was also assessed. METHODS: Sedentary volunteers (age 34.3 +/- 13.0 yr, weight 72.5 +/- 13.7 kg, height 1.7 +/- 0.1 m) were randomly assigned to either a training (n = 16) or a control (n = 10) group. All participants completed a graded exercise test to determine aerobic capacity at baseline and after the intervention. Participants allocated to the training group performed 30 min of PRET at RPE13 on the Borg 6 to 20 RPE Scale on three occasions per week for 8 wk. Affective valence was measured using the Feeling Scale. RESULTS: The RPE-regulated training resulted in improvements (p < 0.01) in VO2max, mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, and body mass index in the training group across time. During training at RPE13, VO2 increased (p < 0.01) from week 1 (19.2 +/- 1.1 mL/kg/min) to week 8 (23.4 +/- 1.1 mL/kg/min). On average, affect was positive and stable throughout training (3.4 +/- 1.2). Affect measured at RPE13 in the baseline and postintervention graded exercise tests increased in the training group (3.1 +/- 0.9 to 3.7 +/- 1.1, p < 0.05), whereas it decreased in the control group (2.8 +/- 1.1 to 2.6 +/- 1). CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary individuals were able to use PRET at RPE13 to improve their cardiovascular health and fitness, and on average, the exercise intensities selected were perceived to feel pleasant.

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