Concurrent validation of the OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale of perceived exertion with elastic bands in the elderly.

Purpose: To examine the concurrent validity of the OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale of perceived exertion using elastic bands in elder population.

Methods: Twenty-six participants performed three separate sets of 15 repetitions (low- medium- and high-intensity) for 4 different exercises (2 for the upper-limb and 2 for the lower limb), over two different testing sessions. The criterion variables were heart rate and applied force (average and maximum). In addition to these dependent variables, the active muscle and overall body OMNI-RES for elastic bands scores were collected at the end of each repetition.

Results: Significant differences in heart rate, applied force and OMNI-RES scores between the low- and high-intensity sets were observed. For all the four exercises, high intensity sets elicited higher heart rate, applied force, and RPE compared to the medium and the low overloads. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.79 in heart rate and ranged 0.69-0.80 in OMNI-RES Scale and 0.76-0.86 for the applied force.

Conclusion: A strong positive and linear relationship was observed between the rating of perceived exertion and both heart rate and applied force. The OMNI-RES scale with elastic bands demonstrated to be a valid method for assessing the perceived exertion during resistance exercises and consequently represent a useful tool for prescribing exercise intensity to the elderly.