Ratings of perceived exertion from a submaximal 20-m shuttle run test predict peak oxygen uptake in children and the test feels better

Abstract

Purpose To determine the validity and test–retest reliability of using ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) elicited during a submaximal 20-m Shuttle Run Test (20mSRT) to predict VO2peak in children and investigate acute affective responses. Methods Twenty-five children (14 boys; age, 12.8 ± 0.7 years; height, 162.0 ± 9.3 cm; mass, 49.9 ± 7.7 kg) completed four exercise tests (GXT, 2 submaximal 20mSRT, maximal 20mSRT). The Eston–Parfitt RPE scale was used, and affect was measured with the Feeling Scale. Submaximal 20mSRT were terminated upon participants reporting RPE7. The speed-RPE relationship from the submaximal 20mSRTs was extrapolated to RPE9 and 10 to predict peak speed and then used to estimate VO2peak. Results Repeated measures ANOVA to examine the validity of using submaximal RPE to predict VO2peak resulted in a Gender main effect (boys = 46.7 ± 5.1 mL kg−1 min−1; girls = 42.0 ± 5.1 mL kg−1 min−1) and Method main effect (p < 0.01). There were significant differences between measured and estimated VO2peak from the maximal 20mSRT, but not between measured and estimated VO2peak at RPE9 and RPE10. Intraclass correlation analysis revealed excellent reliability (~ 0.9) between the two submaximal 20mSRTs. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in end-test affect were reported between submaximal and maximal trials in girls, but not in boys, with girls feeling less negative at the end of the submaximal trials. Conclusions The results of this study provide evidence that RPE reported during a submaximal 20mSRT can be used to predict VO2peak accurately and reliably. In this study, the submaximal 20mSRT ending at RPE7, provided better predictions of VO2peak while minimising aversive end-point affect, especially in girls.

Children can rate perceived effort but do not follow intensity instructions during soccer training

“…Instead, HRmax was approximated with a formula, which is recommended in cases when HRmax cannot be measured with appropriate tests (23). Nevertheless, measuring HRmax is recommended for future studies, for example, with a 20 m shuttle run test (6), which is a widely used test in soccer.…”

“…Yelling et al (4) described lower correlations in eleven-and twelve-compared to fourteen-and fifteen-year-olds. Conversely, other studies found large and excellent correlations between RPE and HR or performance measures already in nine-and twelve-year-olds (5,6). Thus, several factors appear to influence how well children can rate perceived effort.…”

“…Correlations between cHR and RPE are also evident in children [e.g. (3,5,6),]. sHRz correlates with session RPE which is a subjective measure for the training load of a sport activity.…”

The Rating of Perceived Exertion—Pediatric (RPE-P) Scale: Preliminary Validation

“…This makes it particularly important to tailor physical activity recommendations not only to a patient's pain level, but to other factors that may limit physical abilities, such as excess weight [6]. One way to develop appropriate physical activity interventions for youth with chronic pain is to account for each patient's fitness level, training load, and exercise intensity through the assessment of perceived exertion [7][8][9][10]. Unfortunately, there are no existing pediatric scales validated for youth with chronic pain.…”