The relationship of plasma ammonia and lactate concentrations to perceived exertion in trained and untrained women

Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate the covariance between perceived exertion (recorded using Borg's category-ratio scale CR-10) and the relative oxygen uptake, and lactate and ammonia concentrations in blood from a peripheral vein. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% maximal oxygen uptake and lactate and ammonia concentrations were compared in well-trained women distance runners (n = 22) and untrained women (n = 10). Ammonia concentrations in peripheral venous blood were significantly correlated with RPE (P < 0.05), both in the trained and untrained women. Differences between the trained and untrained subjects occurred when the ammonia concentration increased to 148 mol · l^–1 in both groups investigated; similarly, the mean RPE correlated significantly with the lactate concentration (P < 0.05), both in the trained and untrained women and there was a difference in RPE between groups when lactate concentration in the blood had risen to 4.4 mmol · l^–1. It would seem that the correlation of blood ammonia and lactate concentrations with RPE during exercise could be a useful indicator of the development of fatigue.