Published in:
Open Access 01-06-2016 | Original Article
Prediction of peak oxygen uptake in children using submaximal ratings of perceived exertion during treadmill exercise
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 6/2016
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Purpose
This study assessed the utility of the Children’s Effort Rating Table (CERT) and the Eston–Parfitt (EP) Scale in estimating peak oxygen uptake (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\)) in children, during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a treadmill.
Methods
Fifty healthy children (n = 21 boys; 9.4 ± 0.9 years) completed a continuous, incremental protocol until the attainment of \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\). Oxygen uptake (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)) was measured continuously, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were estimated at the end of each exercise stage using the CERT and the EP Scale. Ratings up to- and including RPE 5 and 7, from both the CERT (CERT 5, CERT 7) and EP Scale (EP 5, EP 7), were linearly regressed against the corresponding \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\), to both maximal RPE (CERT 10, EP 10) and terminal RPE (CERT 9, EP 9).
Results
There were no differences between measured- and predicted \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\) from CERT 5, CERT 7, EP 5 and EP 7 when extrapolated to either CERT 9 or EP 9 (P > 0.05). Pearson’s correlations of r = 0.64–0.86 were observed between measured- and predicted \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\), for all perceptual ranges investigated. However, only EP 7 provided a small difference when considering the standard error of estimate, suggesting that the prediction of \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\) from EP 7 would be within 10 % of measured \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\).
Conclusions
Although robust estimates of \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\) may be elicited using both the CERT and EP Scale during a single CPET with children, the most accurate estimates of \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}\) occur when extrapolating from EP 7.