The validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for adults with progressive muscle diseases

Abstract

Purpose: Measuring the physical activity of adults with progressive muscle diseases is important to inform clinical practice, for activity recommendations and for outcomes meaningful to participants in clinical trials. Despite its wide use, the measurement properties of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) have not been established in a muscle disease population. Materials and methods: The sample of 103 adults with progressive muscle diseases included independently mobile participants and wheelchair users. Their home-based activity measured by the IPAQ was compared to simultaneous weeks of accelerometer activity data collected remotely in a longitudinal, measure evaluation study. Validity, reliability, and responsiveness were evaluated for the IPAQ alone, and for the IPAQ used in conjunction with a smart activity monitor. Results: The IPAQ did not demonstrate satisfactory criterion validity, reliability or responsiveness and it systematically overestimated moderate and vigorous physical activity time by 161 minutes per week. Measurement properties of the IPAQ were improved when it was used in combination with a smart activity monitor. Conclusions: The IPAQ did not have satisfactory measurement properties compared to accelerometry in adults with progressive muscle disease. Combining self-report and objective activity measures might improve the accuracy of physical activity assessment in this and other comparable populations.Physical activity is a meaningful health outcome for adults with progressive muscle diseases, for whom precise activity quantification is important because of the potential for activity-related disease exacerbation. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) had unsatisfactory measurement properties compared to accelerometry; however, these were improved by adjunctive smart activity monitoring. Objective or combined physical activity measurement is recommended over self-report alone for clinical assessment of physical activity as part of rehabilitation and self-management programmes.

Relationship between Objectively and Subjectively Measured Physical Activity in Adolescents during and after COVID-19 Restrictions

“…As expected, participants tended to significantly overestimate their actual PA at the MVPA intensity. This is in line with the body of literature on the topic, independently of the type of participants and the personal/environmental conditions during the study [ 18 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Orthorexia Nervosa and Disordered Eating Attitudes, Self-Esteem and Physical Activity among Young Adults

“…A previous study reported that the short version of the IPAQ does not appear to be a good indicator of individual physical activity behavior but is better suited for larger population-based samples [ 45 ]. In addition, previous findings have shown that the IPAQ overestimates moderate and vigorous activity in the adult population [ 46 , 47 , 48 ] or underestimates the actual levels of physical activity [ 49 , 50 ]. We can suppose that young adults using self-report measures could misestimate moderate-intensity physical activity, as it has been shown in other studies demonstrating that younger adults underestimated the moderate and vigorous-intensity of physical activity more than middle-aged adults [ 51 ].…”

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Association with Serum Levels of Nitric Oxide, Prostacyclin, and Thromboxane B2 among Prinzmetal Angina Patients and Healthy Persons

“…Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured twice after resting for 15 min in a sitting position [ 37 ]. The level of physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [ 38 ].…”