The Validity of the Session Rating of Perceived Exertion Method for Measuring Internal Training Load in Professional Classical Ballet Dancers

The aim of this study was to investigate the convergent validity of session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) with objective measures of internal training load (TL) in professional classical ballet dancers. Heart rate and s-RPE data were collected in 22 professional classical ballet dancers across a total of 218 ballet class or rehearsal sessions. Eleven participants completed at least 9 sessions, and were therefore included in analyses of individual relationships between s-RPE and objective measures. To calculate s-RPE, the session duration was multiplied by the RPE, measured using the modified Borg CR-10 scale. The Edwards summated heart rate zones (Edwards TRIMP) and Banister training impulse (Banister TRIMP) methods were used as criterion measures of internal TL. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were used to determine intra-individual relationships between s-RPE and objective measures. Repeated measures correlations were used to identify intra-individual relationships common across the cohort. Positive linear relationships were seen between s-RPE and objective measures across all session types [Edwards TRIMP: r(rm (195)) = 0.81, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: r(rm (195)) = 0.79, p < 0.001], in ballet class [Edwards TRIMP: r(rm (58)) = 0.64, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: r(rm (58)) = 0.59, p < 0.001], and in rehearsals [Edwards TRIMP: r(rm (119)) = 0.82, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: r(rm (119)) = 0.80, p < 0.001], as well as across both males [Edwards TRIMP: r(rm (136)) = 0.82, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: r(rm (136)) = 0.80, p < 0.001], and females [Edwards TRIMP: r(rm (57)) = 0.80, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: r(rm (57)) = 0.78, p < 0.001]. Intra-individual correlation coefficients ranged from 0.46–0.96 [Edwards TRIMP: mean r = 0.81 ± 0.11, p = 0.051 – < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: mean r = 0.78 ± 0.14, p = 0.13– < 0.001]. These results demonstrate that s-RPE is a valid and practical method for measuring internal TL in professional classical ballet dancers.