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

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 VO(2peak) 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 VO(2peak). RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA to examine the validity of using submaximal RPE to predict VO(2peak) 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 VO(2peak) from the maximal 20mSRT, but not between measured and estimated VO(2peak) 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 VO(2peak) accurately and reliably. In this study, the submaximal 20mSRT ending at RPE7, provided better predictions of VO(2peak) while minimising aversive end-point affect, especially in girls.