Validation of the adult OMNI scale of perceived exertion for cycle ergometer exercise.
OBJECTIVE
Concurrent and construct validity of the OMNI-Cycle Scale of Perceived Exertion were examined using young adult women and men (18-32 yr).


METHODS
Concurrent validity was established by correlating OMNI-Cycle Scale ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) with oxygen consumption (.VO2) and heart rate (HR) responses to a load-incremented cycle ergometer protocol. Construct validity was established by correlating RPE derived from the OMNI-Cycle Scale with RPE from the Borg (6-20) Scale. RPE, .VO2, and HR were measured during each exercise stage.


RESULTS
The range of exercise responses across the incremental test for the female and male groups was .VO2 = 0.92-2.74 L.min-1, HR = 107.2-167.2 beats.min-1, and OMNI Scale RPE-Overall, RPE-Legs, and RPE-Chest 1.0-9.1. Correlation/regression analyses indicated that RPE-Overall, RPE-Legs, and RPE-Chest distributed as a positive linear function of both .VO2 and HR (r = 0.81 to 0.95; P < 0.01). Undifferentiated and differentiated RPE-OMNI Scale distributed as a positive linear function of RPE-Borg Scale (r = 0.92 to 0.97; P < 0.01). ANOVA indicated that OMNI-Cycle RPE-Legs was higher (P < 0.01) than RPE-Chest at each exercise stage for both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Concurrent and construct evidence supports use of the OMNI Scale by adult women and men to estimate RPE during cycle exercise.
Robertson
Robert J
RJ
Center for Exercise and Health-Fitness Research, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. rrobert@pitt.edu
Goss
Fredric L
FL
Dube
John
J
Rutkowski
Jason
J
Dupain
Mandi
M
Brennan
Carol
C
Andreacci
Joseph
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001642:Bicycling; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception; D005082:Physical Exertion; D015203:Reproducibility of Results