Age related differences in the validity of the OMNI perceived exertion scale during lifestyle activities.
OBJECTIVE
The OMNI perceived exertion scale was developed for children to report perceived effort while performing physical activity; however no studies have formally examined age-related differences in validity. This study evaluated the validity of the OMNI-RPE in 4 age groups performing a range of lifestyle activities.


METHODS
206 participants were stratified into four age groups: 6-8 years (n = 42), 9-10 years (n = 46), 11-12 years (n = 47), and 13-15 years (n = 71). Heart rate and VO2 were measured during 11 activity trials ranging in intensity from sedentary to vigorous. After each trial, participants reported effort from the OMNI walk/run scale. Concurrent validity was assessed by calculating within-subject correlations between OMNI ratings and the two physiological indices.


RESULTS
The average correlation between OMNI ratings and VO2 was 0.67, 0.77, 0.85, and 0.87 for the 6-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15 y age groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The OMNI RPE scale demonstrated fair to good evidence of validity across a range of lifestyle activities among 6- to 15-year-old children. The validity of the scale appears to be developmentally related with RPE reports closely reflecting physiological responses among children older than 8 years.
Dept. of Physical Activity and Health, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR.
Kelly R
KR
Rice
Catherine
C
Gammon
Karin
K
Pfieffer
Stewart G
SG
Trost
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D057566:Self Report; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology