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OMNI scale perceived exertion at ventilatory breakpoint in children: response normalized
R J Robertson1, F L Goss, N Boer
1Center for Exercise and Health-Fitness Research, Department of Health and Physical Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. rrobert@pitt.edu
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|November 2, 2001
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Human Performance
Background:
- Understanding children's physiological responses to exercise is crucial for developing safe and effective training programs.
- The ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt) is a key indicator of exercise intensity, but its relationship with perceived exertion in children requires further investigation.
- The Children's OMNI Scale of Perceived Exertion offers a validated method for assessing perceived exertion in this age group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normalized rating of perceived exertion (RPE) values (Overall, Legs, Chest) corresponding to the ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt) in 8- to 12-year-old children.
- To examine if these RPE-Vpt values differ between children with average and above-average cardiorespiratory fitness levels.
- To assess potential gender differences in RPE-Vpt relationships within this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Participants (N=48) were 8- to 12-year-old children, stratified into average (VO2 peak: 41.0-49.0 mL·kg−1·min−1) and above-average (VO2 peak: 50.0-58.0 mL·kg−1·min−1) fitness groups.
- A progressive cycle ergometer test to exhaustion was used to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt).
- The Children's OMNI Scale of Perceived Exertion was administered to assess RPE-Overall, RPE-Legs, and RPE-Chest at the Vpt.
Main Results:
- No significant gender differences were observed for any measured variables.
- The ventilatory breakpoint occurred at 64.0% of VO2 peak for the average fitness group and 74.0% for the above-average group.
- Normalized RPE values for Overall (mean 6.1), Legs (mean 7.2), and Chest (mean 4.5) at the Vpt did not differ between fitness groups or genders.
Conclusions:
- Normalized rating of perceived exertion (RPE) values at the ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt) are consistent across 8- to 12-year-old children with varying cardiorespiratory fitness levels.
- These findings suggest a stable perceptual response to a given exercise intensity relative to the ventilatory breakpoint in this age group.
- The Children's OMNI Scale provides a reliable measure for gauging exercise intensity corresponding to Vpt in pediatric populations.
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