A normalized rate of perceived exertion at ventilatory breakpoint for different exercise modalities and production of exercise intensity with self-regulation for Singapore children

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify a normalized RPE response at ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt) for male adolescents 13-17 years old, and whether these adolescents could self-regulate at target RPEs of 4 and 6.METHODS: Twenty healthy males participated in the study, with 10 males in each of the cycling and walking/running groups. Participants performed orientation and V? O2peak trials before performing a perceptual estimation exercise trial to obtain RPE Vpt, and two production trials to assess self-regulation ability.RESULTS: Vpt corresponded to 67.7% V? O2peak for the cycling group and 70.4% V? O2peak for the walking/running group. There were no group differences on RPE-Overall Vpt (cycling: 4.6; walking/running: 4.4), RPE-Legs Vpt (cycling: 5.4; walking/running: 4.6), and RPE-Chest Vpt (cycling: 4.0; walking/running: 4.8). A normalized RPE-Overall Vpt response was identified at five. V?O2 did not differ between the estimation and production trials at targets RPE of 4 (1.59 vs. 1.57 L center dot min-1) and 6 (1.87 vs. 1.79 L center dot min-1). Similarly, heart rate (HR) did not differ between estimation and production trials at targets RPE 4 (152.4 vs. 151.1 beats center dot min-1) and 6 (167.1 vs. 162.4 beats center dot min-1). Both V?O2 and HR were sig-nificantly higher at RPE 6 compared to RPE 4. Responses were not affected by exercise mode or production sequence.CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that undifferentiated and differentiated RPE Vpt were similar between cycling and walking/running participants. Male adolescents between 13-and 17-year-olds were able to use the OMNI scale to self-regulate exercise intensities that would be useful in field settings.