title: Validity of the OMNI rating of perceived exertion scale for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the validity of the OMNI Walk/Run Rating of Perceived Exertion (OMNI-RPE) scores with heart rate and oxygen consumption (VO₂) for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children and adolescents with CP, aged 6 to 18 years and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to III completed a physical activity protocol with seven trials ranging in intensity from sedentary to moderate-to-vigorous. VO₂ and heart rate were recorded during the physical activity trials using a portable indirect calorimeter and heart rate monitor. Participants reported OMNI-RPE scores for each trial. Concurrent validity was assessed by calculating the average within-subject correlation between OMNI-RPE ratings and the two physiological indices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the correlational analyses, 48 participants (22 males, 26 females; age 12y 6mo, SD 3y 4mo) had valid bivariate data for VO₂ and OMNI-RPE, while 40 participants (21 males, 19 females; age 12y 5mo, SD 2y 9mo) had valid bivariate data for heart rate and OMNI-RPE. VO₂ (r=0.80; 95% CI 0.66-0.88) and heart rate (r=0.83; 95% CI 0.70-0.91) were moderately to highly correlated to OMNI-RPE scores. No difference was found for the correlation of physiological data and OMNI-RPE scores across the three GMFCS levels. The OMNI-RPE scores increased significantly in a dose-response manner (F(6,258) =116.1, p<0.001) as exercise intensity increased from sedentary to moderate-to-vigorous.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OMNI-RPE is a clinically feasible option to monitor exercise intensity in ambulatory children and adolescents with CP.
authors: Research Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Brighton, MA, USA.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Fragala-Pinkham
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Margaret E
authors: ME
authors: O'Neil
authors: Gait Analysis Laboratory, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Lennon
authors: Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Brighton, MA, USA.
authors: Jeffrey L
authors: JL
authors: Forman
authors: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors: Stewart G
authors: SG
authors: Trost
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*