RPE Scale Research Articles

Effect Of Exercise-induced Fatigue On Lower-extremity Emg Amplitude During A Maximum Vertical Forward-lateral Jump

Muscular fatigue during exercise alters neuromuscular function. Exercise-induced muscle fatigue is thought to be a potential risk factor for athletic injuries. Few studies have examined the effects of functional exercise-induced fatigue on electromyography (EMG) amplitude (amp) during a highly demanding movement. PURPOSE: To examine EMG amp during a maximum vertical forward-lateral jump, pre and post fatigue. METHODS: Twenty-five asymptomatic subjects (24 ± 2.5 yrs, 175 ± 11 cm, 70 ± 13 kg) were recruited. EMG electrodes were placed over gluteus maximus (GX), gluteus medius (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), and medial hamstring (MH). A maximum vertical jump height (MVJH) was obtained as a baseline. A functional exercise fatigue protocol included 5-min of incremental running, 20-sec of lateral jumps, and 20 vertical lunge jumps. Subjects repeated this cycle until subjects’ RPE scale reached 17 (very hard) and the MVJH fell below 80% of their baseline. Prior to and after the fatigue protocol, subjects performed 5 maximum vertical forward-lateral jumps. Functional linear models were used to compare EMG amp mean difference before and after fatigue. Pairwise comparison functions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were plotted to determine significant mean difference. If the curve differences with CIs did not cross zero, then differences existed. RESULTS: Figure 1. After fatigue, GX EMG amp reduced at 0-4%, 38-53%, and 80-97% of stance. GM EMG amp reduced at 84-100% of stance. VL EMG amp reduced at 87-100% of stance. MH EMG amp reduced at 2-6%, 24-61%, and 78-100% of stance. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in observed EMG amp may be related to movement and dynamic stability deficits of the lower-extremity. More data are needed to examine how these deficits increase an injury incidence.

Daily Physical Activity After Meals -long Term Effects On Blood Glucose

PURPOSE: The postprandial blood glucose concentration is an important risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Previous studies have shown that one bout of moderate or light post-meal physical activity effectively blunts the postprandial increase in blood glucose after carbohydrate intake. Pre-meal exercise does not generate such effect. Thus, the effect of exercise on postprandial glycemia depend on the timing of exercise. Even very light physical activity decreases postprandial glycemia when performed in the postprandial period. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether such activity performed each day for 12 weeks would influence blood variables related to glycemic control. METHODS: 40 subjects being ethnic Norwegians or of South Asian origin were randomized into an intervention or a control group. They were previously diagnosed as hyperglycemic, or with high risk of type 2 diabetes according to Ramachandran’s risc score. Control subjects were told to maintain their usual physical activity patterns during the study period, while the intervention subjects were instructed to undertake a minimum of 30 minutes of daily post-meal physical activity in addition to their usual activity patterns. Venous blood samples were taken before and after the 12 week intervention period. Plasma was analyzed for HbA1c and for fasting and 2hour (OGTT) values of glucose, insulin and c-peptide. The subjects kept a physical activity diary, answered questionnaires and used accelerometers to determine the level of physical activity. RESULTS: The intervention subjects reported an average of 1.3±0,8 bouts of physical activity each day (usual activity included), starting 29±13 min after the last meal, lasting 56±21 min, with an intensity of 11.3±1,0 on Borg RPE scale. This was an increase in post meal physical activity of 41±25 min/day compared to pre intervention (p<0.001). The control group did not change their activity habits. None of the glycemic variables changed from pre to post, neither in the intervention nor the control group (p>0.1). CONCLUSION: This study is not in support of the idea that daily post meal light physical activity might alter glycemia.

Distance-dependent association of affect with pacing strategy in cycling time trials.

The psychological construct of affect is proposed to significantly contribute to pacing decisions during exercise. Borg's RPE scale, another important regulator of work rate, is criticized as an inadequate measure of the multiple perceptual responses experienced. This study aimed to examine power output distribution and associated changes in affect, self-efficacy, perceptual cues, HR, and respiratory gases during both 16.1- and 40-km self-paced cycling time trials (TT). Secondly, the differentiation between physical perceptions of exertion and sense of effort in self-paced exercise was investigated. Fifteen trained male cyclists completed 16.1- and 40-km TT using a CompuTrainer cycle ergometer. Time, power output distribution, affect, self-efficacy, physical RPE (P-RPE), task effort and awareness (TEA), HR, and respiratory gases were measured throughout each TT. Linear mixed models explored associations of these variables with power output distribution and the relationship between P-RPE and TEA. Similar pacing strategies were adopted in the 16.1- and 40-km TT (P = 0.31), and the main effects were found for affect (P = 0.001) and RER (P < 0.001). Interactions between affect (P = 0.037) and RER (P = 0.004), with condition, indicated closer associations with power output distribution in 16.1 km than that in 40 km TT. P-RPE was not significantly different from TEA (P = 0.053). A significant association between affect and power output distribution suggests that affective responses are task dependent even in self-paced exercise, and a greater association is demonstrated in higher intensity, 16.1 km TT. Furthermore, physical perceptions of exertion are not clearly differentiated from the sense of effort in self-paced exercise.

Lifting Activities in Production and Logistics of the Future – Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) for Analyzing Physiological Stress

A study at a replicated logistics workplace examines whether the Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) can be used to analyze stress during lifting operations by using a mobile cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)-system. Based on previously conducted task analyses in the field of manual handling, an appropriate experimental design was developed where both the package weight (0kg, 6.5kg, 13kg) and the type of movement (bending-to-stretching, stretching-to-bending, normal-to-normal) are varied. To test the plausibility of the RER, relative oxygen consumption (V’O2/kg), the heart rate (HR) as well as subjective data (Borg RPE scale) are used.

Development of the color scale of perceived exertion: preliminary validation.

This study developed a Color Scale of Perceived Exertion (RPE-color scale) and assessed its concurrent and construct validity in adult women. One hundred participants (18-77 years), who were habitual exercisers, associated colors with verbal anchors of the Borg RPE scale (RPE-Borg scale) for RPE-color scale development. For RPE-color scale validation, 12 Young (M = 21.7 yr., SD = 1.5) and 10 Older (M = 60.3 yr., SD = 3.5) adult women performed a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill and reported perceived exertion in both RPE-color and RPE-Borg scales. In the Young group, the RPE-color scale was significantly associated with heart rate and oxygen consumption, having strong correlations with the RPE-Borg scale. In the Older group, the RPE-color scale was significantly associated with heart rate, having moderate to high correlations with the RPE-Borg scale. The RPE-color scale demonstrated concurrent and construct validity in the Young women, as well as construct validity in Older adults.

Exercise Intensity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors: a Comparison with Reference Values.

The optimal dose of physical activity (PA) in cancer survivors (CS) is unknown due to the large variety of types of cancer, illness stages and treatments, low cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical inactivity. It is recommended that CS follow current PA guidelines for healthy population. There are no specific exercise prescription guidelines for CS. To know the cardiorespiratory parameters of CS in order to create exercise prescription guidelines for this population, 152 inactive CS were recruited to perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), ventilatory threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) determined 3 exercise intensity zones to create exercise intensity classification guidelines for CS. VO2peak (18.7±4.6 mL·kg-1·min-1) and peak heart rate (HRpeak) (145.1±17.9 bpm) were lower than the estimated values (p<0.001). Moderate intensity zone for CS was different from the current PA guidelines for healthy population: 41-64% VO2max, 55-70% HRmax, 23-48% HRres, 2.5-4 METs and 8-14 points on RPE scale. Intensities in PA guidelines for healthy population are not adapted to the characteristics of CS. For individual exercise prescription in CS specific PA guidelines should be used in order to maximize the benefits obtained by the use of aerobic exercise training.

Age related differences in the validity of the OMNI perceived exertion scale during lifestyle activities.

The OMNI perceived exertion scale was developed for children to report perceived effort while performing physical activity; however no studies have formally examined age-related differences in validity. This study evaluated the validity of the OMNI-RPE in 4 age groups performing a range of lifestyle activities. 206 participants were stratified into four age groups: 6-8 years (n = 42), 9-10 years (n = 46), 11-12 years (n = 47), and 13-15 years (n = 71). Heart rate and VO2 were measured during 11 activity trials ranging in intensity from sedentary to vigorous. After each trial, participants reported effort from the OMNI walk/run scale. Concurrent validity was assessed by calculating within-subject correlations between OMNI ratings and the two physiological indices. The average correlation between OMNI ratings and VO2 was 0.67, 0.77, 0.85, and 0.87 for the 6-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15 y age groups, respectively. The OMNI RPE scale demonstrated fair to good evidence of validity across a range of lifestyle activities among 6- to 15-year-old children. The validity of the scale appears to be developmentally related with RPE reports closely reflecting physiological responses among children older than 8 years.

Validity of the session rating of perceived exertion for monitoring exercise demands in youth soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent and construct validity of the Borg (0-10) and children's OMNI scales for quantifying the exercise intensity and training load (TL) in youth soccer players. Twelve children (mean ± SD age 11.4 ± 0.5 y, height 154.3 ± 6.5 cm, body mass 39.5 ± 5.4 kg) took part in this study. Exercise intensity and TL were calculated on the basis of the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and heart rate (HR; Edwards method) during 20 technical-tactical training sessions. Players' sRPEs were obtained from the Borg and OMNI scales. Low correlations between HR-based TL and sRPE TL based on the Borg (r = .17, P = .335) and OMNI (r = .34, P = .007) scales were obtained. Significant (P < .001) relationships in sRPE (r = .76) and TL (r = .79) between RPE scales were found. The current data do not support the relationship between the sRPE and HR methods for quantifying TL in youth soccer players. However, the sRPE method could be considered a better indicator of global internal TL, since sRPE is a measure of both physical and psychological stress. In addition, the authors demonstrated the construct validity for the OMNI scale to control exercise demands.

Methods for Quantifying Training in Sprint Kayak

The aims of this study were to determine the validity of the session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) method by comparing 3 different scales of perceived exertion with common measures of training load (TL). A secondary aim was to verify the relationship between TLs, fitness, and performance in Sprint Kayak athletes. After laboratory assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak) and lactate threshold, the athletes performed on water time trials over 200 and 1,000 m. Training load was quantified for external (distance and speed) and internal (session-RPE: 6-20, category ratio [CR]-10 and CR-100 scales, training impulse [TRIMP], and individual TRIMP). Ten (6 male, 4 female) well-trained junior Sprint Kayak athletes (age 17.1 ± 1.2 years; V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak 4.2 ± 0.7 L·min) were monitored over a 7-week period. There were large-to-very large within-individual correlations between the session distance and the various heart rate (HR) and RPE-based methods for quantifying TL (0.58-0.91). Correlations between the mean session speed and various HR- and RPE-based methods for quantifying TL were small to large (0.12-0.50). The within-individual relationships between the various objective and subjective methods of internal TL were large to very large (0.62-0.94). Moderate-to-large inverse relationships were found between mean session-RPE TL and various aerobic fitness variables (-0.58 to -0.37). Large-to-very large relationships were found between mean session-RPE TL and on water performance (0.57-0.75). In conclusion, session-RPE is a valid method for monitoring TL for junior Sprint Kayak athletes, regardless of the RPE scale used. The session-RPE TL relates to fitness and performance, supporting the use of session-RPE in Sprint Kayak training.

Intensive aerobic and muscle endurance exercise in patients with systemic sclerosis: a pilot study

BackgroundNo previous studies have examined the effect of intensive exercise in systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary impairment. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week intensive aerobic exercise and muscle endurance training program for patients with systemic sclerosis with 50–100% of forced vital capacity.MethodsA single-subject experimental design with repeated systematic measures during a six week A-phase (non-interventional baseline period) and an eight week B-phase (exercise intervention period) was used. Three women and one man with median age 66 years and median disease duration of 3.5 years completed aerobic exercise corresponding to 15 on the Borg RPE scale (strenuous) and muscular endurance training three times/week. Physical capacity (six-minute walk test), aerobic capacity (submaximal treadmill test) and muscle endurance in shoulder and hip flexion (Functional Index 2) were assessed every other week throughout the 14-week study. Activity limitation (Health Assessment Questionnaire), quality of life (Short Form 36), Raynaud, Fatigue and Global Health during the recent week (Visual Analogue Scales) were assessed at weeks 0, 6, 14.ResultsThree participants improved significantly in muscular endurance, and two participants improved significantly or clinically relevant in aerobic capacity. All other variables remained unchanged, except for a trend towards reduced fatigue.ConclusionsThis eight week exercise program was largely successful with positive effects on aerobic capacity and muscle endurance.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01813578

A Learning Protocol Improves the Validity of the Borg 6–20 RPE Scale During Indoor Cycling

The present study assessed the effectiveness of an RPE learning protocol for improving the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale for self-regulating exercise intensity during Indoor Cycling (IC). 16 healthy adults performed 5 IC sessions. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored. In sessions 1 and 5, participants perceptually regulated exercise intensity to produce pre-determined RPE levels equivalent to estimated HR levels. Sessions 2, 3 and 4 focused on the RPE learning protocol. The RPE-measured HR correlation was 0.59 in session 1 and 0.67 in session 5 (both P<0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient between measured HR and estimated HR was 0.85 in session 1 and 0.90 in session 5. There was bias in session 1 (3.69 bpm [SD=12.44]; P<0.001) but not in session 5 (0.99 bpm [SD=9.7]; P=0.178; mean HR difference session 5 vs. 1: -2.70 bpm [95% CI: -4.49 to -0.91]; P=0.003; Cohen's d=0.24). There was association between the HR difference and the magnitude of the measurement in session 1 (β=0.208; P<0.01) but not in session 5 (β=-0.072; P=0.34). These preliminary results suggested that an RPE learning protocol might slightly improve the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale for exercise intensity self-regulation during IC sessions in healthy adults.

Messung der kardiorespiratorischen Fitness in der Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland (DEGS1)

A state of good fitness is related to a better health state and a lower mortality risk. In the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1), aerobic fitness was measured among adults between 18 and 64 years old using a submaximal cycle ergometry test. The total sample comprised 5,263 persons, amongst those 3,111 were categorized as being test-qualified according to the Physical Activity Readiness-Questionnaire. There were 3,030 persons who absolved a submaximal exercise test according to the exercise protocol of the WHO (25/25/2). The test-participation rate was 57.2 % in relation to the total sample and 97.4 % among test-qualified persons. Apart from the continuous heart-rate monitoring, capillary blood was taken prior to starting the test and at the end of each workload stage for performing blood lactate analyses. The test ended when 85 % of the age-predicted maximal heart rate was exceeded. In all 11.9 % of the tests were terminated earlier, the mean exercise duration was 10.8 min, and the anticipated submaximal exertion in the highest workload stage was on average achieved with a mean of 15 on the 20-point RPE scale. The nationwide data can now be used for the national health monitoring system, epidemiological research and for the calculation of reference values. An English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink as supplemental.

Validity and psychometric evaluation of the French version of RPE scale in young fit males when monitoring training loads

The aim of this study was to validate the French translation of the category-rating-10 used for assessing perceived exertion (RPE) when monitoring training loads. Fifty athletes from individual (Taekwondo) and team sports (soccer) volunteered. Two forward translations, a reconciled version, and then a back-translation were completed to validate the final French version. French Session-RPE, heart rate, and duration were recorded for 622 training sessions. The comparability of language and similarity of interpretability using a Likert scale were 2 and 1, respectively. A high Cronbach's α coefficient (α = 0.77) was found. The intraclass correlation coefficient of session-RPE was 0.77. High correlations were determined between the session-RPE and HR-based methods during training sessions. The effect size was 0.97. When monitoring training load, the French version of category-rating-10 exhibits similar reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change as the English version. L’objet de cette étude était de valider la traduction française de l’échelle de la Note de Catégorie-10 utilisée dans l’évaluation de la perception de l’effort pour contrôler la charge d’entraînement. Cinquante athlètes de sport individuel (taekwondo) et d’équipe (football) ont volontairement participé à l’étude. Deux traductions en mode direct, une version réconciliée, puis une traduction indirecte ont été effectuées pour évaluer la version française finale. La fréquence cardiaque, la durée et la charge d’entraînement quantifiée par la version française ont été enregistrées durant 622 séances d’entraînement. La comparaison et la similarité de l’interprétation en utilisant l’échelle de Likert étaient de 2 et 1, respectivement. Un coefficient élevé de α-Cronbach a été calculé (α = 0,77). Le coefficient de corrélation intraclasse de la RPE-de-séance était de 0,77. Des corrélations élevées ont été observées entre la RPE-séance et les différentes méthodes de contrôle de la charge d’entraînement basées sur la FC (les méthodes de Banister et d’Edwards). L’effet de taille de l’échantillon était de 0,97. Dans le cadre du contrôle de la charge d’entraînement, la version française de l’échelle de la Note de Catégorie-10 présente une similarité de fiabilité, validé et sensibilité aux changements avec la version anglaise.

Using the RPE-Talk Scale to Individualize Physical Activity for Students

For some students, self-selecting a pace during exercise may not provide enough of a physical challenge. Others push themselves so hard that they tire out before they can experience the benefits of exercise. In order to improve self-monitoring of exercise intensity, a variety of tools using the perception of effort and the ability to talk while exercising have been utilized with students. The purpose of this article is to briefly explain the rationale behind the RPE Scale, the OMNI Scale, and the talk test and to describe a new scale (the RPE-Talk Scale) that combines the elements unique to each tool to further improve students' ability to achieve and maintain the right exercise intensity.

To compare the efficacy of incentive spirometry and resistive inspiratory devices on ventilatory muscle strength in patients with moderate dyspnea in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Backgrond: Dyspnea is one of the main complain of the COPD patients. In the general setting it is treated by medical and physiotherapeutic intervention. Incentive Spirometry and Resistive Inspiratory Devices are 2 main treatment approaches in physiotherapy. Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of Incentive Spirometry and Resistive Inspiratory Devices on ventilatory muscle strength in COPD patients with mild to moderate dyspnea. Method: 30 COPD patients with mild to moderate dyspnea were randomly assigned to Incentive Spirometry group (Group A) and Resistive Inspiratory Device group (Group B). The duration of protocol was 4 weeks and both the groups received 2 sessions per day. Pre-treatment RPE and IC are compared with post-treatment data i.e, at the end of 4 weeks. Analysis was based on the ICS and Borg’s RPE scale. Results: The test showed significant improvement (p 0.05 the comparison showed difference as not significant. This result showed that there is no significant difference between the 2 groups. Interpretation & Conclusion: It is concluded that there is no significant difference between the 2 groups. Both the interventions (Incentive Spirometer and Resistive Inspiratory Device) are equally effective, both in improving ventilatory muscle strength and reducing the perception of dyspnea in COPD patients with mild to moderate dyspnea.

Perceptually Regulated Training at RPE13 Is Pleasant and Improves Physical Health

Despite endorsement by various health organizations, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of perceptually regulated exercise training (PRET) as a method of exercise intensity prescription. The purpose of this study was to confirm the efficacy of an 8-wk PRET program clamped at RPE13 to improve aerobic fitness and cardiovascular health. The affective response to this method of exercise prescription was also assessed. Sedentary volunteers (age = 34.3 ± 13.0 yr, weight = 72.5 ± 13.7 kg, height = 1.7 ± 0.1 m) were randomly assigned to either a training (n = 16) or a control (n = 10) group. All participants completed a graded exercise test to determine aerobic capacity at baseline and after the intervention. Participants allocated to the training group performed 30 min of PRET at RPE13 on the Borg 6-20 RPE Scale on three occasions per week for 8 wk. Affective valence was measured using the Feeling Scale. The RPE-regulated training resulted in improvements (P < 0.01) in V˙O(2max), mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, and body mass index in the training group across time. During training at RPE13, V˙O(2) increased (P < 0.01) from week 1 (19.2 ± 1.1 mL·kg·min) to week 8 (23.4 ± 1.1 mL·kg·min). On average, affect was positive and stable throughout training (3.4 ± 1.2). Affect measured at RPE13 in the baseline and postintervention graded exercise tests increased in the training group (3.1 ± .9 to 3.7 ± 1.1, P < 0.05), whereas it decreased in the control group (2.8 ± 1.1 to 2.6 ± 1). Sedentary individuals were able to use PRET at RPE13 to improve their cardiovascular health and fitness, and on average, the exercise intensities selected were perceived to feel pleasant.

Perceived exertion, comfort and working technique in professional computer users and associations with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate whether perceived exertion, perceived comfort and working technique is associated with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms among professional computer users.MethodsAt baseline a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 853 participants from 46 different work sites (382 men and 471 women) who, at baseline, had been free from neck and upper extremity symptoms during the preceding month. Work-related exposures, individual factors, and symptoms from the neck and upper extremities were assessed. Observations of working technique were performed by ergonomists using an ergonomic checklist. Incidence data were collected by means of 10 monthly questionnaires, asking for information on the occurrence of neck, shoulder and arm/hand symptoms. Perceived exertion was rated on a modified Borg RPE scale ranging from 0 (very, very light) to 14 (very, very strenuous). Perceived comfort was rated on a 9-point scale ranging from -4 (very, very poor) to +4 (very, very good) in relation to the chair, computer screen, keyboard, and computer mouse.ResultsThe median follow up time was 10.3 months. The incidence of symptoms from the neck, shoulders and arm/hands were 50, 24 and 34 cases per 100 person years, respectively.Higher perceived exertion in the neck, shoulder or arm/hands was associated with an increased risk of developing symptoms in the corresponding body region. Moreover, a dose-response relationship between the level of exertion and the risk of developing symptoms was recorded for all three regions. There was an association between low comfort and an increased risk for neck symptoms, but not for shoulder and arm/hand symptoms, although a trend towards such an association (not statistically significant) could be seen. Working technique was, in this study, not associated with the risk of developing symptoms in any of the investigated body regions.ConclusionThere was a strong association between high perceived exertion and the development of neck, shoulder, and arm/hand symptoms. Moreover, there was an association between poor perceived comfort and neck pain. Surveillance of computer users may include perceived exertion and comfort to target individuals at risk for neck and upper extremity symptoms.

The effectiveness of a preferred intensity exercise programme on the mental health outcomes of young people with depression: a sequential mixed methods evaluation

BackgroundPeople with mental illness are more likely to suffer physical health problems than comparable populations who do not have mental illness. There is evidence to suggest that exercise, as well has having obvious physical benefits, also has positive effects on mental health. There is a distinct paucity of research testing its effects on young people seeking help for mental health issues. Additionally, it is generally found that compliance with prescribed exercise programmes is low. As such, encouraging young people to exercise at levels recommended by national guidelines may be unrealistic considering their struggle with mental health difficulties. It is proposed that an exercise intervention tailored to young people's preferred intensity may improve mental health outcomes, overall quality of life, and reduce exercise attrition rates.Methods/DesignA sequential mixed methods design will be utilised to assess the effectiveness of an individually tailored exercise programme on the mental health outcomes of young people with depression. The mixed methods design incorporates a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT), focus groups and interviews and an economic evaluation. Participants: 158 young people (14-17 years) recruited from primary care and voluntary services randomly allocated to either the intervention group or control group. Intervention group: Participants will undertake a 12 week exercise programme of 12 × 60 minutes of preferred intensity aerobic exercise receiving motivational coaching and support throughout. Participants will also be invited to attend focus groups and 1-1 interviews following completion of the exercise programme to illicit potential barriers facilitators to participation. Control group: Participants will receive treatment as usual. Primary Outcome measure: Depression using the Children's Depression Inventory 2 (CDI-2). Secondary Outcome measures: Quality of Life (EQ-5D), physical fitness (Borg RPE scale, heart rate), incidents of self-harm, treatment received and compliance with treatment, and the cost effectiveness of the intervention. Outcome measures will be taken at baseline, post intervention and 6 month follow up.DiscussionThe results of this study will inform policy makers of the effectiveness of preferred intensity exercise on the mental health outcomes of young people with depression, the acceptability of such an intervention to this population and its cost effectiveness.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01474837

Effects of a short-term differently dosed aerobic exercise on maximum aerobic capacity in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study

Regular physical activity and exercise improves quality of life and possibly reduces risk of disease relapse and prolongs survival in breast cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a 3-week moderate intensity aerobic training, on aerobic capacity (VO2max) in breast cancer survivors. A prospective, randomized clinical study included 18 female breast cancer survivors in stage I-IIIA, in which the primary treatment was accomplished at least 3 months before the study inclusion. In all the patients VO2max was estimated using the Astrand's protocol on a bicycle-ergometer (before and after 3 weeks of training), while subjective assessment of exertion during training were estimated by the Category-Ratio RPE Scale. Each workout lasted 21 minutes: 3 minutes for warm-up and cool-down each and 15 min of full training, 2 times a week. The workload in the group E1 was predefined at the level of 45% to 65% of individual VO2max, and in the group E2 it was based on subjective evaluation of exertion, at the level marked 4-6. Data on the subjective feeling of exertion were collected after each training course in both groups. We recorded a statistically significant improvement in VO2max in both groups (E1--11.86%; E2--17.72%), with no significant differences between the groups. The workload level, determined by the percent of VO2max, was different between the groups E1 and E2 (50.47 +/- 7.02% vs 55.58 +/- 9.58%), as well as subjective perception of exertion (in the groups E1 and E2, 11.6% and 41.6% of training, respectively, was graded in the mark 6). In our group of breast cancer survivors, a 3-week moderate intensity aerobic training significantly improved the level of VO2max.

The Role of Aerobic Fitness on Session Rating of Perceived Exertion in Futsal Players

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of aerobic fitness (VO2max) on internal training loads, as measured by the session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) method. Nine male professional outfield futsal players were monitored for 4 wk of the in-season period with regards to the weekly accumulated session-RPE, while participating in the same training sessions. Single-session-RPE was obtained from the product of a 10-point RPE scale and the duration of exercise. Maximal oxygen consumption was determined during an incremental treadmill test. The average training load throughout the 4 wk period varied between 2,876 and 5,035 arbitrary units. Technical-tactical sessions were the predominant source of loading. There was a significant correlation between VO2max (59.6 ± 2.5 mL · kg-1 · min-1) and overall training load accumulated over the total period (r = -0.75). The VO2max plays a key role in determining the magnitude of an individual's perceived exertion during futsal training sessions.