Reliability and Validity of the Borg and Omni Rpe Scales in Adolescent Females

PURPOSE: To determine single-day and test-retest reliability, and validity of the Borg and OMNI rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scales in adolescent females. METHODS: Adolescent girls (N = 58, age = 15.3 ± 1.5 years) were randomly assigned to use an RPE scale (Borg or OMNI) during one of three treadmill steady-state exercise conditons (walking, walking uphill, or jogging). After RPE assessment, intensity was increased until volitional exhaustion (VO2max). Expired respiratory gases and heart rate (HR) were measured continously during exercise. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation indicated that the OMNI (R = 0.95) was more reliable than the Borg scale (R = 0.78). Single-day reliability estimates were R = 0.91 with the OMNI scale and R = 0.64 with the Borg scale. Validity was determined using Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis, with % HRmax and %VO2max as criterion measures. Validity estimates were higher for the OMNI scale compared to the BORG. Specifically, validity coefficients (r) were 0.86 and 0.89 for the OMNI, compared to 0.66 and 0.70 for the Borg, for %HRmax and %VO2max comparisons, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the OMNI scale has not been tested previously in adolescent girls, we found it to be more reliable and valid than the Borg scale for use in this population during treadmill exercise. Supported in part by the Spencer Foundation.