Ratings Of Perceived Exertion And Physiological Responses In Children During Exercise

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 (VO(2)peak) was determined via a GXT with RPE estimated every 30 s. Later, two 6-min trials were completed: Participants 1) estimated RPE at similar to 75 % of VO(2)peak, 2) produced a level of exertion corresponding to their RPE at similar to 75 % of VO(2)peak 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 VO(2)peak; the steady-state estimation and production trials were performed at 76.5 +/- 2.7 % and 68.5 +/- 14.1 % of VO(2)peak, respectively (p > 0.05). Mean RPE at similar to 75 % of VO(2)peak 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 similar to 75 % of VO(2)peak 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.