| Summary: | 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: rrm (195) = 0.81, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: rrm (195) = 0.79, p < 0.001], in ballet class [Edwards TRIMP: rrm (58) = 0.64, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: rrm (58) = 0.59, p < 0.001], and in rehearsals [Edwards TRIMP: rrm (119) = 0.82, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: rrm (119) = 0.80, p < 0.001], as well as across both males [Edwards TRIMP: rrm (136) = 0.82, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: rrm (136) = 0.80, p < 0.001], and females [Edwards TRIMP: rrm (57) = 0.80, p < 0.001; Banister TRIMP: rrm (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.
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