Endpoint
Rating of perceived exertion
CAT:outcome/rating-of-perceived-exertionreported in score (Borg)13 findings from 3 compounds
What moved it
How to read these marks13 findings · 3 compounds · 8 null · by evidence strength
| Compound | Direction | Findings | Strongest evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| caffeine | no effect 7 · down 4 | 11 | Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers. |
| beta-alanine | no effect | 1 | Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers. |
| nitrate | up | 1 | Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence. |
Reported to move it
5 findings
caffeine — decreases
LimitedEvidence strength: limited. Human evidence with several recorded weaknesses, or a design that tops out at limited.Findingreplicated ×3“Compared with the PLA, the CAF chewing gum increased the HRmean, HRmax, %HRmax, and EES, and reduced the RPE and MF.”
Quoted verbatim from Effects of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Psychophysiological Responses and Kinematic Profiles During Intermittent and Continuous Small-Sided Soccer Games in Young Male Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- 300 mg caffeinated chewing gum (Military Energy Gum), masticated for 5 min, finishing 5 min before the warm-up
- Population
- Young male soccer players; Borg 15-point (6-20) RPE rated 5 min after 3-a-side small-sided games. Main effect of supplementation pooled across the continuous and intermittent game formats.
Effects of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Psychophysiological Responses and Kinematic Profiles During Intermittent and Continuous Small-Sided Soccer Games in Young Male Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial.2026PMID:42356348Permalink
nitrate — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Finding“On the other hand, nitrate-rich beetroot juice significantly increased the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale more than the placebo (MD = -0.77; 95% CI [0.18, 1.37], P = 0.01).”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy of dietary nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Efficacy of dietary nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic review and meta-analysis.2021PMID:33745600Permalink
caffeine — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×3“In comparison to placebo, caffeine reduced RPE during exercise by 5.6% (95% CI (confidence interval), -4.5% to -6.7%), with an equivalent RPE ES of -0.47 (95% CI, -0.35 to -0.59).”
Quoted verbatim from Effects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion during and after exercise: a meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- meta-analysis of caffeine ingestion studies; RPE during constant-load exercise, in comparison to placebo
Effects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion during and after exercise: a meta-analysis.2005PMID:15773860Permalink
caffeine — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×3“Caffeine also reduced the rating of perceived exertion after 5 min of cycling by 11% (95% CI: 5-17; P = 0.002) and postural stability with eyes open by 25% (95% CI: 2-53; P = 0.03).”
Quoted verbatim from Caffeine improves endurance in 75-yr-old citizens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 30
- Dose
- 6 mg/kg caffeine, single capsule, 1 h before testing
- Population
- healthy adults aged 70 years or older (15 men, 15 women)
Caffeine improves endurance in 75-yr-old citizens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.2005PMID:16081625Permalink
caffeine — decreases
InsufficientEvidence strength: insufficient. Mechanistic inference, no evidence found, or evidence weakened below very limited.Findingreplicated ×3“Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE; 6-20 Borg scale) were lower in the caffeine trial by approximately 1 RPE point at 30, 60 and 120 s during the constant rate phase of the preloaded test (P <0.05).”
Quoted verbatim from Caffeine lowers perceptual response and increases power output during high-intensity cycling.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 11
- Dose
- 5 mg/kg caffeine capsule
- Population
- male cyclists
Caffeine lowers perceptual response and increases power output during high-intensity cycling.2004PMID:15370494Permalink
Measured, no effect detected
8 findings
caffeine — no detected effect on
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“As shown in C, nine studies evaluated RPE after performing an exercise protocol after caffeine supplementation, finding no effect of this supplement on RPE (SMD: 0.258, 95% CI: −0.048, 0.565; I2 0.26% p = 0.260).”
Quoted verbatim from Does Acute Caffeine Supplementation Improve Physical Performance in Female Team-Sport Athletes? Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- Acute oral caffeine, doses across included studies 1.3-6 mg/kg, ingested 60 min before testing
- Population
- Adult female team-sport athletes; RPE recorded after an exercise protocol, pooled across nine studies
Effect 0.258 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -0.048 to 0.565
Does Acute Caffeine Supplementation Improve Physical Performance in Female Team-Sport Athletes? Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.2021PMID:34684665Permalink
beta-alanine — no detected effect on
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.FindingNull result“The meta-analysis showed that BA supplementation generated a trivial and non-significant effect on RPE (SMD, 0.03; 95% CI −0.52–0.58; p = 0.92), and low heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I2 = 42%; p = 0.14).”
Quoted verbatim from Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Aerobic-Anaerobic Transition Zones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- Healthy adults in four studies reporting Borg-scale RPE, secondary outcome, supplementation versus placebo
Effect 0.03 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -0.52 to 0.58
Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Aerobic-Anaerobic Transition Zones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.2020PMID:32824885Permalink
caffeine — no detected effect on
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“Similarly, the RPE increased progressively from 1000 m (PLA: 11.0±1.7 and CAF: 11.1±2.0 units) to 4000 m (PLA: 16.3±2.5 and CAF: 16.4±2.2 units) in both conditions, but there was no significant difference between them.”
Quoted verbatim from Caffeine alters anaerobic distribution and pacing during a 4000-m cycling time trial.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- 5 mg/kg body weight, single dose, ingested 1 hour before the trial
- Population
- recreationally-trained male cyclists
Caffeine alters anaerobic distribution and pacing during a 4000-m cycling time trial.2013PMID:24058684Permalink
caffeine — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“Caffeine ingestion at either dose resulted in significantly higher heart rate values than the placebo conditions (P < 0.05), but no statistically significant treatment effects in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were observed (P = 0.39).”
Quoted verbatim from The effects of different doses of caffeine on endurance cycling time trial performance.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- 3 or 6 mg/kg body mass caffeine, single dose 90 min before exercise
- Population
- 16 well-trained male cyclists
The effects of different doses of caffeine on endurance cycling time trial performance.2012PMID:22142020Permalink
caffeine — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“There were no significant differences in passing skill, rating of perceived exertion, La, or body-mass losses between trials.”
Quoted verbatim from The influence of caffeine and carbohydrate coingestion on simulated soccer performance.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 15
- Dose
- caffeine 3.7 mg/kg body mass added to a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution, ingested 1 hr before exercise and every 15 min during a 90-min intermittent shuttle-running protocol
- Population
- male soccer players; carbohydrate-electrolyte solution given as background in both arms
The influence of caffeine and carbohydrate coingestion on simulated soccer performance.2010PMID:20601736Permalink
caffeine — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“Heart rate during exercise was higher (P b .001) with caffeine vs placebo, although the rating of perceived exertion was similar (P = .65).”
Quoted verbatim from Increases in cycling performance in response to caffeine ingestion are repeatable.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- 5 mg/kg caffeine, single oral dose
- Population
- 9 endurance-trained men and women, cyclists
Increases in cycling performance in response to caffeine ingestion are repeatable.2012PMID:22348455Permalink
Show the remaining 2
caffeine — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“Caffeine had no significant effect on peak power, work output, RPE, or peak heart rate.”
Quoted verbatim from Physiological and cognitive responses to caffeine during repeated, high-intensity exercise.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 17
- Dose
- 6 mg/kg caffeine, single dose 90 min before exercise, crossover with placebo and no-treatment control
- Population
- mixed-sex subjects (5 female of 17), repeated anaerobic exercise (two 60-s maximal cycling bouts)
Physiological and cognitive responses to caffeine during repeated, high-intensity exercise.2006PMID:17240784Permalink
caffeine — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull resultreplicated ×6“In contrast, there was no significant effect of caffeine supplementation on RPE.”
Quoted verbatim from Caffeine supplementation and multiple sprint running performance.. - Study
- RCT
- Participants
- 21
- Dose
- 5 mg/kg body mass caffeine, single dose 1 h before exercise
- Population
- physically active men, indoor multiple sprint running trial (12 x 30 m, repeated at 35-s intervals)
Caffeine supplementation and multiple sprint running performance.2008PMID:18799995Permalink
How it is measured
Borg-type perceived exertion rating (6 to 20 category scale, or 0 to 10 category-ratio CR10) given during or immediately after a defined exercise bout. The scale version and the workload at which the rating was taken are recorded with each finding; CR10 and 6-20 values are not interchangeable.
Measured, not recorded
- Subject
- rating of perceived exertion
- Measurements
- 16 measurements
- Recorded as a finding
- No
Show what was measured
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, p = 0.65, n = 9
Heart rate during exercise was higher with caffeine vs placebo, although the rating of perceived exertion was similar.
PMID:22348455 · both readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect
There was no significant difference in rating of perceived exertion across the conditions (P = .18).
PMID:26182440 · both readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect
Not recorded as a finding: outcome node requires the Borg scale version (6-20 or CR10) recorded with each finding; the abstract names no scale
Ratings of perceived exertion did not differ between treatments.
PMID:17507744 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect
In conclusion, sodium bicarbonate improves judo-related performance and increases blood lactate concentration but has no effect on perceived exertion.
PMID:17507744 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect
Not recorded as a finding: the only sentence naming this endpoint says 'no differences ... between treatments' without naming caffeine or placebo, and no Methods-style sentence in this abstract-only paper resolves the arm label
No differences were found between treatments for serum free-fatty-acid concentrations, plasma lactate concentrations, serum cortisol concentrations, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion.
PMID:18708685 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, n = 12
No significant differences were observed in the RPE among the three trials.
PMID:21207054 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect
No differences were observed in ratings of perceived exertion between trials.
PMID:21279864 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, n = 12
No differences were observed in ratings of perceived exertion between trials.
PMID:21279864 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect
Similarly, the RPE increased progressively from 1000 m (PLA: 11.0±1.7 and CAF: 11.1±2.0 units) to 4000 m (PLA: 16.3±2.5 and CAF: 16.4±2.2 units) in both conditions, but there was no significant difference between them.
PMID:24058684 · one of two readings recorded this
Rating of perceived exertion
no effect, n = 15
Furthermore, no main effect was observed for the rating of perceived exertion
PMID:32182747 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, p = 0.92
(SMD, 0.03; 95% CI −0.52–0.58; p = 0.92)
PMID:32824885 · one of two readings recorded this
Rating of perceived exertion
no effect, SMD 0.258, 95% CI -0.048, 0.565
As shown in C, nine studies evaluated RPE after performing an exercise protocol after caffeine supplementation, finding no effect of this supplement on RPE (SMD: 0.258, 95% CI: −0.048, 0.565; I2 0.26% p = 0.260).
PMID:34684665 · one of two readings recorded this
Rating of perceived exertion
no effect, n = 8
Although there was a clear effect of exercise intensity on ventilation, oxygen consumed, carbon dioxide produced and respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate and RPE there was no effect of supplementation on any of these cardio-respiratory variables (NS).
PMID:36695951 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, p = 0.18, n = 20
There were also no significant differences in RPE (6.3 ± 1.5 vs. 6.9 ± 1.4, p = 0.180) or BP changes between groups
PMID:40944177 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, p = 0.5, n = 16
Neither plasma lactate levels nor RPE showed significant main effects of treatment or timepoint (all p > 0.5)
PMID:40981477 · one of two readings recorded this
rating of perceived exertion
no effect, p = 1, n = 14
No main effect of condition was found for HR (175.1 [170.5, 179.7] vs. 175.8 [171.2, 80.3]; F = 0.374, p = 0.552) or RPE (8.57 [8.22, 8.92] vs. 8.57 [8.22, 8.92]; F < 0.001, p = 1.000).
PMID:42588115 · one of two readings recorded this
Sources cited
13 papers
- Subject
- rating of perceived exertion
- Findings
- 13
- Papers
- 13
Effects of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Psychophysiological Responses and Kinematic Profiles During Intermittent and Continuous Small-Sided Soccer Games in Young Male Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial.record2026PMID:423563481 finding
Does Acute Caffeine Supplementation Improve Physical Performance in Female Team-Sport Athletes? Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.record2021PMID:346846651 finding
Efficacy of dietary nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic review and meta-analysis.record2021PMID:337456001 finding
Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Aerobic-Anaerobic Transition Zones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.record2020PMID:328248851 finding
Caffeine alters anaerobic distribution and pacing during a 4000-m cycling time trial.record2013PMID:240586841 finding
Increases in cycling performance in response to caffeine ingestion are repeatable.record2012PMID:223484551 finding
The effects of different doses of caffeine on endurance cycling time trial performance.record2012PMID:221420201 finding
The influence of caffeine and carbohydrate coingestion on simulated soccer performance.record2010PMID:206017361 finding
Caffeine supplementation and multiple sprint running performance.record2008PMID:187999951 finding
Physiological and cognitive responses to caffeine during repeated, high-intensity exercise.record2006PMID:172407841 finding
Caffeine improves endurance in 75-yr-old citizens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.record2005PMID:160816251 finding
Effects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion during and after exercise: a meta-analysis.record2005PMID:157738601 finding
Caffeine lowers perceptual response and increases power output during high-intensity cycling.record2004PMID:153704941 finding