Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Effects of Surgical Masks on Cardiopulmonary Function in Healthy Subjects
Published on: February 12, 2021
Omni Scale Perceived Exertion responses in obese and normal weight male adolescents during cycle exercise
G Balasekaran1, M K Loh, V V Govindaswamy
1Nanyang Technological University National Institute of Education Physical Education and Sports Science Human Bioenergetics Laboratory, Singapore - govindasamy.b@nie.edu.sg.
Aim:
The Children's OMNI scale of perceived exertion (OMNI Scale) has been validated with children. However, the scale's validity to assess exertional perceptions in obese (OB) adolescents has not been investigated. The aim of this paper was to validate and compare exertional perceptions using the OMNI Scale between OB and normal weight (NW) adolescent males.
Methods:
Eighteen OB and 23 NW adolescent males (age: 12-14) participated in a perceptual estimation paradigm with a load incremented cycle ergometer protocol. Heart rate (HR;beats·min-1), oxygen uptake (VO2 mL·min-1 and mL·kg-1·min-1) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for the overall body (RPE-O), legs (RPE-L), and chest (RPE-C) were determined at the end of each continuously administered 3-min power output stage as subjects cycled stage-wise incrementally to exhaustion beginning with 4 sub-maximal stages.
Results:
For OB, 17 completed 4 stages and 3 attained maximal stage 7. For NW, all 18 completed stage 5, and 8 reached maximal stage 7. RPE ranges (i.e. stage 1 to stage 7) for OB and NW were: Stage 1: RPE-O (1.0±1.6, 1.2±0.6), RPE-L (0.9±1.4, 0.9±0.8) and RPE-C (0.9±1.1, 0.9±0.7). Stage 7: RPE-O (7.3±2.3, 8.8±1.4), RPE-L (8.0±2.0, 8.8±1.4) and RPE-C (7.7±2.1, 7.6±3.0). Linear regression for all three RPEs correlated significantly (P<0.001) with HR and VO2 (0.61 to 0.79) for both cohorts. ANOVA indicated no differences between RPE-O and differentiated RPE (RPE-C and RPE-L) at each stage. The RPE responses between OB and NW adolescent males were analyzed by the Bland Altman plot, which indicated significant agreement (95% CI) between the two groups.
Conclusion:
The OMNI Scale is valid for use with 12-14 year-old OB and NW adolescent males. The scale seems to be robust and RPE remained similar for the two cohorts with the same fat free mass but with different fat mass. Hence OMNI scale RPE seems to be able to reflect effort delivered by metabolically active muscle during cycle exercise.
More Related Videos
08:21Non-invasive Assessments of Subjective and Objective Recovery Characteristics Following an Exhaustive Jump Protocol
Published on: June 8, 2017
07:26Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
01:24Obesity
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...