Pictorial Children’s Exertion Rating Table

Posted on: March 16, 2015 | By: kschmoyer | Filed under: Perceived Exertion Scale for Children

Descriptive Information:

  1. Title, Edition, Dates of Publication/Revision
    1. Pictorial Children’s Exertion Rating Table
    2. 1st edition
    3. CERT (children’s exertion rating table) 1994
    4. PCERT 1996
  2. Author’s
    1. J. Noble
    2. J. Robertson
  3. Source
    1. Human Kinetics
  4. Purpose
    1. To provide a visual assessment scale to allow children to effectively self-report perceived rate of exertion during physical activity by means of using a verbal, numerical, and pictorial representation scale.
  5. Type of Test
    1. Screening and evaluative tool for assessment of exertion during physical activity
  6. Target Population & Ages
    1. Children under the age of 16, with primary use in adolescents.
  7. Time Requirements
    1. Assessment of exertion requires less than 30 seconds to assess if person being assessed has been previously introduced to the scale.
    2. Overall time is dependent on participant, physical activity being assessed, and efficiency of evaluator.

Test Administration:

  1. Administration
    1. Children are shown the visual scale, with exertion levels depicted by a person in different levels of fatigue. Each level is paired with a verbal descriptor and a numerical level indicator. Prior to cessation of activity the child is asked to look at scale and report their perceived rate of exertion based on how they feel in relation to the visual descriptors on the scale and the number associated with each number.
  2. Scoring
    1. Scoring is based on a scale from 1-10. 1 being “very very easy” and 10 being “ so tired I’m going to stop”.
  3. Type of Information resulting from testing
    1. During physical activity leading up to the use of the PCERT, the child’s heart rate and oxygen levels are generally assessed throughout the activity. This objective information can be used in correlation with the child’s self- report of perceived exertion to determine trends based on age, exercise level of intensity, and any other demographic information.
  4. Environment for Testing
    1. Environment is variable, in general most research has been completed in controlled testing environments indoors, using a standardized exercise protocol. Other research has yet to investigate the use of the PCERT in an outdoor or less controlled environment.
  5. Equipment & Materials needed
    1. Print out of the PCERT for visual use by participant
  6. Examiner Qualifications
    1. None
  7. Psychometric Characteristics
  8. Standardization/Normative Data
    1. Perceived rate of exertion is solely subjective data
  9. Evidence of Reliability
    1. Unable to find numerical evidence supporting reliability of the PCERT.
  10. Evidence of Validity
    1. Intraclass Correlations between CERT and heart rate at level 5 intensity: .72 (boys) and .96 (girls); Correlations between CERT and work output at level 5 intensity: .97 (boys) and .90 (girls)
    2. Correlation Coefficients between PCERT and heart rate ages 14-15: .52 (boys) and .66 (girls)

Summary Comments

  1. Strengths
    1. Provides a visual descriptor to assist in a child’s ability to self- report their perceived rate of exertion during variable intensities of physical activity. These visual descriptors are paired with numerical and verbal descriptors to assist children in appropriately reporting their perception of exertion during physical activity.
  2. Weaknesses
    1. This self-report exertion scale is highly subjective and is open to varying degrees of interpretation on the part of the patient being assessed.
  3. Clinical Application
    1. Clinical use for evaluation of a patients perceived level of exertion during and following physical activity of varying intensities.
  4. References:
    1. Yelling M, Lamb K, Swaine I. “Validity of a Pictorial Perceived Exertion Scale for Effort Estimation and Effort Production During Stepping Exercise in Adolescent Children” Euro Phys Edu Review. 2002. 8(2):157-175.
    2. Eston RG, Et Al. “Validity of Perceived Exertion Scale for Children: A Pilot Study” Perceptual and Motor Skills. 1994. 78: 691-697.

Article Summary

Yelling M, Lamb K, Swaine I. “Validity of a Pictorial Perceived Exertion Scale for Effort Estimation and Effort Production During Stepping Exercise in Adolescent Children” Euro Phys Edu Review. 2002. 8(2):157-175.

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the pictorial children’s exertion rating table (PCERT), in assessment of children’s perception of exertion while performing an exercise step test. A total of 104 children participated in this study aged 12 to 15 years, 53 boys and 51 girls. Upon selection into the study participants were divided into 4 classes, in which they completed four lessons, which involved a series of exercise activities such as soccer or netball, to establish exercise tolerance and to assist in allowing the participants to distinguish between light and vigorous activity. Participants were also asked to reflect up their perception of breathlessness, muscular ache or pain and if they experience any changes in body temperature. The participants were then exposed to the PCERT and familiarized with the protocol of rating one’s perceived exertion. Children were given the PCERT and exercise protocols to take home and study for a week prior to the start of the intervention, the exercise tasks were then administered at the children’s schools approximately 7 to 10 days apart from one another.

 

The intervention was a step test protocol assessed 5 sets of 3 minutes exercise bouts, separated by a two-minute rest period in between each exercise set. To adjust intensity of the step protocol, height of the step was altered or adjustment was made to the rate of the stepping. Each exercise set was ranked at a different level of intensity with intensity increasing with each consecutive exercise set. Heart rate was monitored throughout each intervention session, and the children were re-introduced to the PCERT prior to initiating intervention. Prior to completion of each exercise set the children were asked to assess their exertion, using the words or picture descriptors of the PCERT. In the second stage of the study’s intervention, patient were instructed to reach a specific level on the PCERT, of 3,5,7,9. Once the child was able to assess their rate of exertion at level 3, they would then progress the intensity of the step test to the next intensity level. The results of the study demonstrated that an increase in intensity led to an increase in heart rate and a subsequent increase in self-reported perceived rate of exertion. The study found that females reported a greater level of exertion at given exercise intensities in comparison to the males in the study. Overall this study determined that the use of the pictorial children’s exertion rating table is a valid means of determining a child’s perception of their exertion during light and vigorous activity.

 

2 responses to “Pictorial Children’s Exertion Rating Table”

  1. eoleary says:
    March 23, 2015 at 1:06 pm

    Kendra,
    Great! It seems like this would be very easy for children to use and a quick and easy check that can be assessed by any person similar to the RPE scale for adults. Does it cost anything for the PCERT? I wonder if there is any research about if children find a number they like. When I observed in the cardiac rehab many of the patients would say “I’m an 8” like they defined themselves by their number which is hard to determine change.

  2. Richard Zambito says:
    January 9, 2016 at 9:03 pm

    It’s difficult to find knowledgeable people on this subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks

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