Validation of the Adult OMNI Scale of perceived exertion for walking/running exercise.
OBJECTIVE
Concurrent and construct validity of the OMNI-Walk/Run Scale of Perceived Exertion was examined using young adult women and men (18-36 yr).


METHODS
Concurrent validity was established by correlating OMNI-Walk/Run Scale ratings of perceived exertion (RPE-OMNI) with oxygen uptake (VO2), relative maximal oxygen uptake (%VO2(max)), ventilation (VE), respiratory rate (RR), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and heart rate (HR) to a graded exercise test on a treadmill. Construct validity was established by correlating RPE-OMNI with RPE from the Borg (6-20) Scale (RPE-BORG). Measurements were made every min throughout the test.


RESULTS
The range of exercise responses across the incremental walking/running test for the female and male groups were: VO2 = 0.99-3.9 L x min(-1), HR = 98-190 beats x min(-1) and RPE-OMNI = 1.3-9.4. Correlation/regression analyses indicated that RPE-OMNI distributed as a positive linear function for all criterion measures; r = 0.67 to 0.88 (P < 0.05). RPE-OMNI was positively and linearly related to the RPE-BORG; r = 0.96 (P < 0.01) for both the female and male groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Concurrent and construct evidence supports use of the OMNI-Walk/Run Scale by adult women and men to estimate RPE during graded exercise test on a treadmill.
Utter
Alan C
AC
Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA. utterac@appstate.edu
Robertson
Robert J
RJ
Green
J Matt
JM
Suminski
Richard R
RR
McAnulty
Steven R
SR
Nieman
David C
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012119:Respiration; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology