what is rpe in exercise

RPE stands for "Rated Perceived Exertion" and is a way to measure the intensity of physical activity. It is a subjective measure of how hard a person feels like theyre working during physical activity, based on elevated heart rate, increased breathing, and muscle fatigue. The RPE scale runs from 0-10, with 0 being no exertion at all and 10 being maximal exertion. Practitioners generally agree that perceived exertion ratings between 12 to 14 on the Borg Scale suggest that physical activity is being performed at a moderate level of intensity. When using the RPE scale, it's important to include feelings of shortness of breath, as well as how tired you feel in your legs and overall. RPE can be an effective tool to help people manage the intensity of their physical activity, especially for individuals whose heart rate does not reflect the amount of exertion they feel.