Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(12): 897-901
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-117609
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Physiological Responses in Children During Exercise

Jennifer M. Erichsen
1   Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, United States
,
Brandon J. Dykstra
1   Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, United States
,
Mary C. Hidde
1   Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, United States
,
Anthony D. Mahon
1   Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 18 July 2017

Publication Date:
21 September 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

OMNI ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and physiological responses in children (n=7 boys, 8 girls, 11.1±1.0 years) were examined during estimation (graded exercise test [GXT] and steady-state) and production (steady-state) trials on a cycle ergometer. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) was determined via a GXT with RPE estimated every 30 s. Later, two 6-min trials were completed: Participants 1) estimated RPE at ~75% of VO2peak, 2) produced a level of exertion corresponding to their RPE at ~75% of VO2peak during the GXT. Data analysis included a one-way MANOVA and a paired t-test. The target intensity during the GXT corresponded to 74.2±2.5% of VO2peak; the steady-state estimation and production trials were performed at 76.5±2.7% and 68.5±14.1% of VO2peak, respectively (p>0.05). Mean RPE at ~75% of VO2peak during the GXT and production trial was 6.7±1.5; during the steady-state estimation trial RPE was 5.8±2.0 (p>0.05). There were no differences (p>0.05) in the physiological responses. Participants estimated RPE similarly at ~75% of VO2peak during both graded and steady-state exercise, but when asked to produce a given RPE, marked variability was observed in physiological responses. These findings may have implications in optimizing exercise prescriptions for children.

Key words

RPE - pediatric - exercise
 

  • References

  • 1 American College of Sports Medicine . ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 9th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Bar-Or O. Pediatric sports medicine for the practitioner: From physiologic principles to clinical application. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1983: 320
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Borg G. Borg’s perceived exertion and pain scales. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 1998: 104
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Borg G. Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. Scand J Rehab Med 1970; 2: 92-98
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Borg G. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1982; 14: 377-381
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Ceci R, Hassmen P. Self-monitored exercise at three different RPE intensities in treadmill vs field running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1991; 23: 732-738
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Chow RJ, Wilmore JH. The regulation of exercise intensity by ratings of perceived exertion. J Card Rehab 1984; 4: 382-387
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Eston RG, Lamb KL. Effort Perception. In: Armstrong N, van Mechelen W. (eds) Paediatric Exercise Science and Medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000: 85-91
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Eston RG, Lamb KL, Bain A, Williams AM, Williams JG. Validity of a perceived exertion scale for children: A pilot study. Percept Mot Skills 1994; 78: 691-697
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Eston RG, Parfitt G. Perceived Exertion. In: Armstrong N. (ed) Paediatric Exercise Physiology. Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2007: 275-295
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Eston RG, Williams JG. Reliability of ratings of perceived effort regulation of exercise intensity. Br J Sports Med 1988; 22: 153-155
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Glass SC, Whaley MH, Wegner MS. Ratings of perceived exertion among standard treadmill protocols and steady state running. Int J Sports Med 1991; 12: 77-82
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Groslambert A, Mahon AD. Perceived exertion: Influence of age and cognitive development. Sports Med 2006; 36: 911-928
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Gutmann MC, Squires RW, Pollock ML, Foster C, Anholm J. Perceived exertion-heart rate relationship during exercise testing and training in cardiac patients. J Cardiopulm Rehab 1981; 1: 52-59
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1121-1124
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Horstman DH, Weiskopf R, Robinson S. The nature of the perception of effort at sea level and high altitude. Med Sci Sports 1979; 11: 150-154
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Lamb KL. Exercise regulation during cycle ergometry using the Children’s Effort Rating Table (CERT) and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scales. Ped Exerc Sci 1996; 8: 337-350
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Mirwald RL, Baxter-Jones AD, Bailey DA, Beunen GP. An assessment of maturity from anthropometric measurements. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 689-694
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Noble BJ. Clinical Applications of Perceived Exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1982; 14: 406-411
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Noble BJ, Robertson RJ. Perceived Exertion. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 1996. 4 172-181
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Piaget J. The Psychology of Intelligence. New York, NY: Routledge; 2001: 131-170
    Google Scholar
  • 22 Robertson RJ. Perceived exertion for practitioners: Rating effort with the OMNI picture system. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2004: 17-32
    Google Scholar
  • 23 Robertson RJ, Goss FL, Bell JA, Dixon CB, Gallagher KI, Lagally KM, Timmer JM, Abt KL, Gallagher JD, Thompkins T. Self-regulated cycling using the children’s OMNI Scale of Perceived Exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 1168-1175
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Robertson RJ, Goss FL, Boer NF, Peoples JA, Foreman AJ, Dabayebeh IM, Millich NB, Balasekaran G, Riechman SE, Gallagher JD, Thompkins T. Children’s OMNI scale of perceived exertion: Mixed gender and race validation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 452-458
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Robertson RJ, Noble BJ. Perception of physical exertion: Methods, mediators, and applications. Exerc Sports Sci Rev 1997; 25: 407
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR. Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001; 37: 153-156
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Tanner JM. Growth at adolescence: With a general consideration of the effects of hereditary and environmental factors upon growth and maturation from birth to maturity. Oxford Blackwell Scientific Publications 1962; 32-33
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Ward DS, Bar-Or O. Use of the Borg scale in exercise prescription for overweight youth. Can J Sport Sci 1990; 15: 120-125
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Ward DS, Jackman JD, Galiano FJ. Exercise intensity reproduction: Children versus adults. Ped Exerc Sci 1991; 3: 209-218
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Williams JG, Eston R, Furlong B. CERT: A perceived exertion scale for young children. Percept Mot Skills 1994; 79: 1451-1458
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Williams JG, Eston RG, Stretch C. Use of the rating of perceived exertion to control exercise intensity in children. Ped Exerc Sci 1991; 3: 21-27
    PubMedGoogle Scholar