Validation of the children's OMNI-resistance exercise scale of perceived exertion

Purpose: This investigation examined concurrent validity of the Children's OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES) of perceived exertion for 10- to 14-yr-old females (N = 25) and males (N = 25) performing unilateral biceps curl (BC) and knee extension (KE) isotonic exercises. Methods: The criterion variable was total weight lifted (Wt(tot)), determined separately for females and males during BC and KE. Subjects performed three separate sets of 6, 10, and 14 repetitions for BC and KE at 50% I-RM. Ratings of perceived exertion for the active muscles (RPE-AM) and overall body (RPE-Overall) were measured during the final repetition. Results: For both female and male groups across the three sets: (a) RPE-AM ranged from 2.9 to 8.3 for BC and 4.5 to 9.6 for KE, and (b) RPE-O ranged from 1.9 to 7.0 for BC and 3.6 to 7.7 for KE. Positive linear regression coefficients ranged from r = 0.72 to 0.88 (P < 0.01) between Wt(tot) and RPE-AM and RPE-Overall for BC and KE in both gender groupings. RPE did not differ between females and males at any measurement point within each set for BC and KE. RPE-AM was greater (P < 0.01) than RPE-Overall in the three sets of BC and KE. Conclusion: Findings provided concurrent validation of the Children's OMNI-RES to measure RPE for the active muscle and overall body in 10- to 14-yr-old females and males performing upper and lower body resistance exercise.