Rating of Perceived Exertion

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    RPE is a subjective measure of how hard it is to perform an exercise. A decrease in RPE may allow someone to push harder, objectively, leading to an increase in performance.

    3,123 participants in 67 trials

    Examine Database: Rating of Perceived Exertion

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    Examine Database References

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    2. Leucine - Ispoglou T, King RF, Polman RC, Zanker CDaily L-leucine supplementation in novice trainees during a 12-week weight training programInt J Sports Physiol Perform.(2011 Mar)
    3. L-Tyrosine - Les Tumilty, Nicholas Gregory, Manfred Beckmann, Rhys ThatcherNo Influence of Low-, Medium-, or High-Dose Tyrosine on Exercise in a Warm EnvironmentMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2020 Jun)
    4. Quercetin - Cheuvront SN, Ely BR, Kenefick RW, Michniak-Kohn BB, Rood JC, Sawka MNNo effect of nutritional adenosine receptor antagonists on exercise performance in the heatAm J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol.(2009 Feb)
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    6. Sodium Bicarbonate - Zabala M, Requena B, Sánchez-Muñoz C, González-Badillo JJ, García I, Oöpik V, Pääsuke MEffects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on performance and perceptual responses in a laboratory-simulated BMX cycling qualification seriesJ Strength Cond Res.(2008 Sep)
    7. Caffeine - Astorino TA, Terzi MN, Roberson DW, Burnett TREffect of caffeine intake on pain perception during high-intensity exerciseInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2011 Feb)
    8. Ginger - Black CD, Oconnor PJAcute effects of dietary ginger on quadriceps muscle pain during moderate-intensity cycling exerciseInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2008 Dec)
    9. Taurine - Rutherford JA, Spriet LL, Stellingwerff TThe effect of acute taurine ingestion on endurance performance and metabolism in well-trained cyclistsInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2010 Aug)
    10. Sodium Bicarbonate - Stephens TJ, McKenna MJ, Canny BJ, Snow RJ, McConell GKEffect of sodium bicarbonate on muscle metabolism during intense endurance cyclingMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2002 Apr)
    11. L-Tyrosine - Troy D Chinevere, Robert D Sawyer, Andrew R Creer, Robert K Conlee, Allen C ParcellEffects of L-tyrosine and carbohydrate ingestion on endurance exercise performanceJ Appl Physiol (1985).(2002 Nov)
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    14. Nitrate - Murphy M, Eliot K, Heuertz RM, Weiss EWhole beetroot consumption acutely improves running performanceJ Acad Nutr Diet.(2012 Apr)
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    16. Eleuthero - Kuo J, Chen KW, Cheng IS, Tsai PH, Lu YJ, Lee NYThe effect of eight weeks of supplementation with Eleutherococcus senticosus on endurance capacity and metabolism in humanChin J Physiol.(2010 Apr 30)
    17. L-Tyrosine - Les Tumilty, Glen Davison, Manfred Beckmann, Rhys ThatcherFailure of oral tyrosine supplementation to improve exercise performance in the heatMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2014 Jul)
    18. Coenzyme Q10 - Bloomer RJ, Canale RE, McCarthy CG, Farney TMImpact of oral ubiquinol on blood oxidative stress and exercise performanceOxid Med Cell Longev.(2012)
    19. L-Tyrosine - Les Tumilty, Glen Davison, Manfred Beckmann, Rhys ThatcherOral tyrosine supplementation improves exercise capacity in the heatEur J Appl Physiol.(2011 Dec)
    20. Citrulline - Sean T Stanelle, Kelsey L McLaughlin, Stephen F CrouseOne Week of L-Citrulline Supplementation Improves Performance in Trained CyclistsJ Strength Cond Res.(2020 Mar)
    21. Sodium Bicarbonate - Carr AJ, Slater GJ, Gore CJ, Dawson B, Burke LMReliability and effect of sodium bicarbonate: buffering and 2000-m rowing performanceInt J Sports Physiol Perform.(2012 Jun)
    22. Coenzyme Q10 - Mizuno K, Tanaka M, Nozaki S, Mizuma H, Ataka S, Tahara T, Sugino T, Shirai T, Kajimoto Y, Kuratsune H, Kajimoto O, Watanabe YAntifatigue effects of coenzyme Q10 during physical fatigueNutrition.(2008 Apr)
    23. Sodium Bicarbonate - Zabala M, Peinado AB, Calderón FJ, Sampedro J, Castillo MJ, Benito PJBicarbonate ingestion has no ergogenic effect on consecutive all out sprint tests in BMX elite cyclistsEur J Appl Physiol.(2011 Dec)
    24. Rhodiola Rosea - Parisi A, Tranchita E, Duranti G, Ciminelli E, Quaranta F, Ceci R, Cerulli C, Borrione P, Sabatini SEffects of chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation on sport performance and antioxidant capacity in trained male: preliminary resultsJ Sports Med Phys Fitness.(2010 Mar)
    25. Rhodiola Rosea - Noreen EE, Buckley JG, Lewis SL, Brandauer J, Stuempfle KJThe effects of an acute dose of Rhodiola rosea on endurance exercise performanceJ Strength Cond Res.(2013 Mar)
    26. Ashwagandha - Raut AA, Rege NN, Tadvi FM, Solanki PV, Kene KR, Shirolkar SG, Pandey SN, Vaidya RA, Vaidya ABExploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteersJ Ayurveda Integr Med.(2012 Jul)
    27. Vitamin C - Huck CJ, Johnston CS, Beezhold BL, Swan PDVitamin C status and perception of effort during exercise in obese adults adhering to a calorie-reduced dietNutrition.(2012 Jun 5)
    28. Betaine - Armstrong LE, Casa DJ, Roti MW, Lee EC, Craig SA, Sutherland JW, Fiala KA, Maresh CMInfluence of betaine consumption on strenuous running and sprinting in a hot environmentJ Strength Cond Res.(2008 May)
    29. Quercetin - Abbey EL, Rankin JWEffect of quercetin supplementation on repeated-sprint performance, xanthine oxidase activity, and inflammationInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2011 Apr)
    30. Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) - A C Morris, I Jacobs, T M McLellan, A Klugerman, L C Wang, J ZamecnikNo ergogenic effect of ginseng ingestionInt J Sport Nutr.(1996 Sep)
    31. Cocoa Extract - Allgrove J, Farrell E, Gleeson M, Williamson G, Cooper KRegular dark chocolate consumption's reduction of oxidative stress and increase of free-fatty-acid mobilization in response to prolonged cyclingInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2011 Apr)
    32. Caffeine - Bellar D, Kamimori GH, Glickman ELThe effects of low-dose caffeine on perceived pain during a grip to exhaustion taskJ Strength Cond Res.(2011 May)
    33. Betaine - Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Kang J, Rashti SL, Faigenbaum ADEffect of betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigueJ Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2009 Feb 27)
    34. Citrulline - Glenn JM, Gray M, Wethington LN, Stone MS, Stewart RW Jr, Moyen NEAcute citrulline malate supplementation improves upper- and lower-body submaximal weightlifting exercise performance in resistance-trained femalesEur J Nutr.(2017 Mar)
    35. L-Carnitine - Weronika N Abramowicz, Stuart D R GallowayEffects of acute versus chronic L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on metabolic responses to steady state exercise in males and femalesInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2005 Aug)
    36. Sodium Bicarbonate - Carr AJ, Gore CJ, Dawson BInduced alkalosis and caffeine supplementation: effects on 2,000-m rowing performanceInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2011 Oct)
    37. Sodium Bicarbonate - Siegler JC, Hirscher KSodium bicarbonate ingestion and boxing performanceJ Strength Cond Res.(2010 Jan)
    38. Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) - Ping FW, Keong CC, Bandyopadhyay AEffects of acute supplementation of Panax ginseng on endurance running in a hot & humid environmentIndian J Med Res.(2011 Jan)
    39. L-Carnitine - Wall BT, Stephens FB, Constantin-Teodosiu D, Marimuthu K, Macdonald IA, Greenhaff PLChronic oral ingestion of L-carnitine and carbohydrate increases muscle carnitine content and alters muscle fuel metabolism during exercise in humansJ Physiol.(2011 Feb 15)
    40. Choline - Warber JP, Patton JF, Tharion WJ, Zeisel SH, Mello RP, Kemnitz CP, Lieberman HRThe effects of choline supplementation on physical performanceInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2000 Jun)
    41. Black Ginger - Wasuntarawat C, Pengnet S, Walaikavinan N, Kamkaew N, Bualoang T, Toskulkao C, McConell GNo effect of acute ingestion of Thai ginseng (Kaempferia parviflora) on sprint and endurance exercise performance in humansJ Sports Sci.(2010 Sep)
    42. Rhodiola Rosea - Duncan MJ, Clarke NDThe Effect of Acute Rhodiola rosea Ingestion on Exercise Heart Rate, Substrate Utilisation, Mood State, and Perceptions of Exertion, Arousal, and Pleasure/Displeasure in Active MenJ Sports Med (Hindawi Publ Corp).(2014)
    43. Caffeine - Backhouse SH, Biddle SJ, Bishop NC, Williams CCaffeine ingestion, affect and perceived exertion during prolonged cyclingAppetite.(2011 Aug)
    44. Citrulline - da Silva DK, Jacinto JL, de Andrade WB, Roveratti MC, Estoche JM, Balvedi MCW, de Oliveira DB, da Silva RA, Aguiar AFCitrulline Malate Does Not Improve Muscle Recovery after Resistance Exercise in Untrained Young Adult MenNutrients.(2017 Oct 18)
    45. Caffeine - Hadjicharalambous M, Georgiades E, Kilduff LP, Turner AP, Tsofliou F, Pitsiladis YPInfluence of caffeine on perception of effort, metabolism and exercise performance following a high-fat mealJ Sports Sci.(2006 Aug)
    46. Cocoa Extract - Glen Davison, Robin Callister, Gary Williamson, Karen A Cooper, Michael GleesonThe effect of acute pre-exercise dark chocolate consumption on plasma antioxidant status, oxidative stress and immunoendocrine responses to prolonged exerciseEur J Nutr.(2012 Feb)
    47. Vitamin C - Davison GW, Ashton T, George L, Young IS, McEneny J, Davies B, Jackson SK, Peters JR, Bailey DMMolecular detection of exercise-induced free radicals following ascorbate prophylaxis in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a randomised controlled trialDiabetologia.(2008 Nov)
    48. Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) - H J Engels, J C WirthNo ergogenic effects of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) during graded maximal aerobic exerciseJ Am Diet Assoc.(1997 Oct)
    49. Betaine - Trepanowski JF, Farney TM, McCarthy CG, Schilling BK, Craig SA, Bloomer RJThe effects of chronic betaine supplementation on exercise performance, skeletal muscle oxygen saturation and associated biochemical parameters in resistance trained menJ Strength Cond Res.(2011 Dec)
    50. Branched-Chain Amino Acids - Blomstrand E, Hassmén P, Ek S, Ekblom B, Newsholme EAInfluence of ingesting a solution of branched-chain amino acids on perceived exertion during exerciseActa Physiol Scand.(1997 Jan)
    51. Vitamin C - Nieman DC, Henson DA, McAnulty SR, McAnulty L, Swick NS, Utter AC, Vinci DM, Opiela SJ, Morrow JDInfluence of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative and immune changes after an ultramarathonJ Appl Physiol (1985).(2002 May)
    52. Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) - Gislaine Cristina-Souza, Ana C Santos-Mariano, Adriano E Lima-Silva, Poliana L Costa, Pablo R Domingos, Sandro F Silva, Wilson C Abreu, Fernando R De-Oliveira, Raul OsieckiPanax ginseng Supplementation Increases Muscle Recruitment, Attenuates Perceived Effort, and Accelerates Muscle Force Recovery After an Eccentric-Based Exercise in AthletesJ Strength Cond Res.(2020 Apr 29)
    53. Sodium Bicarbonate - Hunter AM, De Vito G, Bolger C, Mullany H, Galloway SDThe effect of induced alkalosis and submaximal cycling on neuromuscular response during sustained isometric contractionJ Sports Sci.(2009 Oct)
    54. Sodium Bicarbonate - D Ball, P L Greenhaff, R J MaughanThe acute reversal of a diet-induced metabolic acidosis does not restore endurance capacity during high-intensity exercise in manEur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol.(1996)
    55. Caffeine - Glaister M, Howatson G, Abraham CS, Lockey RA, Goodwin JE, Foley P, McInnes GCaffeine supplementation and multiple sprint running performanceMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2008 Oct)
    56. Ketogenic Diet - Urbain P, Strom L, Morawski L, Wehrle A, Deibert P, Bertz HImpact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted ketogenic diet on physical fitness, body composition and biochemical parameters in healthy adultsNutr Metab (Lond).(2017 Feb 20)
    57. L-Carnitine - Gamze E Orer, Nevin A GuzelThe effects of acute L-carnitine supplementation on endurance performance of athletesJ Strength Cond Res.(2014 Feb)
    58. Citrulline - Brian Cunniffe, Maria Papageorgiou, Barbara OʼBrien, Nathan A Davies, George K Grimble, Marco CardinaleAcute Citrulline-Malate Supplementation and High-Intensity Cycling PerformanceJ Strength Cond Res.(2016 Sep)
    59. Magnesium - Reno AM, Green M, Killen LG, O'Neal EK, Pritchett K, Hanson ZEffects of Magnesium Supplementation on Muscle Soreness and Performance.J Strength Cond Res.(2022-Aug-01)
    60. Beta-Alanine - Huerta Ojeda Á, Tapia Cerda C, Poblete Salvatierra MF, Barahona-Fuentes G, Jorquera Aguilera CEffects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Aerobic-Anaerobic Transition Zones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2020-Aug-19)
    61. Whey Protein - Lam FC, Bukhsh A, Rehman H, Waqas MK, Shahid N, Khaliel AM, Elhanish A, Karoud M, Telb A, Khan TMEfficacy and Safety of Whey Protein Supplements on Vital Sign and Physical Performance Among Athletes: A Network Meta-Analysis.Front Pharmacol.(2019)
    62. Caffeine - M Doherty, P M SmithEffects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion during and after exercise: a meta-analysisScand J Med Sci Sports.(2005 Apr)
    63. Caffeine - Glaister M, Gissane CCaffeine and Physiological Responses to Submaximal Exercise: A Meta-AnalysisInt J Sports Physiol Perform.(2017 Sep 5)
    64. Molecular Hydrogen - Zhou K, Liu M, Wang Y, Liu H, Manor B, Bao D, Zhang L, Zhou JEffects of molecular hydrogen supplementation on fatigue and aerobic capacity in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Nutr.(2023)
    65. Ketogenic Diet - Jingguo Cao, Siman Lei, Xiuqiang Wang, Sulin ChengThe Effect of a Ketogenic Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet on Aerobic Capacity and Exercise Performance in Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisNutrients.(2021 Aug 23)
    66. Nitrate - The effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on endurance exercise performance and cardiorespiratory measures in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis..()
    67. Nitrate - Efficacy of dietary nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic review and meta-analysis..()