Ruhling, R. O., & Christensen, C. L. (1980, October). Cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses to equivalent work rates on the treadmill. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Sport Sciences, Vancouver, Canada.

Data were presented that suggested heart rate and the task's demand for oxygen were the major determinants of perceived exertion.

Any activity (e.g., anxiety, negative appraisal) that heightens these responses should unnecessarily inflate the rating of perceived exertion.

Implication. The perception of how hard an athlete is working is largely determined by heart rate and the oxygen demand of the task. Strategies which minimize attention to these factors, or which minimize their use will better control the acceptability of task demands.

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