Validity of the OMNI rating of perceived exertion scale for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Aim This study evaluated the validity of the OMNI Walk/Run Rating of Perceived Exertion ( OMNI ‐ RPE ) scores with heart rate and oxygen consumption ( VO 2 ) for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy ( CP ). Method 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. VO 2 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 VO 2 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 . VO 2 ( 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. Interpretation OMNI ‐ RPE is a clinically feasible option to monitor exercise intensity in ambulatory children and adolescents with CP .