Development And Reliability Testing Of The Muscle-strengthening Exercise Questionnaire - Modified

Regular muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) training is effective in preventing and treating a number of chronic diseases. A questionnaire was recently developed to measure these behaviors, the Muscle-Strengthening Exercise Questionnaire (MSEQ), and modifications to this tool may enhance psychometric properties and utility. PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to (1) develop a modified version of the MSEQ (MSEQ-M) and (2) determine the test-retest reliability the of the MSEQ-M. METHODS: Key elements of MSE prescription were identified through a literature search, with items either adapted from the MSEQ or newly developed. Prior cognitive interviews (n = 9) were employed to ensure the MSEQ-M was understood by the target population. The MSEQ-M was developed as an online questionnaire, and included 49 items measuring frequency, rest periods, and each of the following across modalities (e.g., free weights): frequency, duration, movement patterns (i.e., push-pull), and intensity. Test-retest reliability was conducted in adults aged 18-65 years, not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study, and could complete an online survey in the English language (n = 205 [female(f), n = 111; male(m), n = 94], mean age [±standard deviation, SD] = 26.2 ± 9.7 years). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Spearman’s rank order coefficients, and Kappa coefficients were computed. RESULTS: For test-retest reliability, the ICC agreement for sets of items were moderate for meeting the muscle strengthening activity (MSA) guidelines (0.52), good to excellent for frequency (0.79-0.90), and moderate to good for duration (0.61-0.79), intensity (0.68-0.80), and rest (0.74-0.78) items. Spearman correlations were weak for meeting the MSA guidelines (ρ = 0.35), moderate to strong for frequency (ρ = 0.62-0.82) and rest (ρ = 0.61-0.70), and moderate for duration (ρ = 0.49-0.69) and intensity (ρ = 0.50-0.63) items. The reliability for movement patterns were mostly moderate to substantial for weight machines (κ = 0.47-0.64), free weights (κ = 0.43-0.74), and bodyweight (κ = 0.53-0.71), and fair to moderate for most resistance band (κ = 0.26-0.45) items. CONCLUSIONS: The MSEQ-M may be a reliable tool for estimating the prevalence of those meeting the MSA guidelines, and for determining MSE behaviors.