Developing a Self-Reported Physical Fitness Survey

Abstract

Physical fitness measures indicate health status, and these can be used to improve management of overall health. Purpose: This study aimed to describe the development of a self-reported fitness (SRFit) survey intended to estimate fitness in adults age ≥40 yr across four domains: 1) muscular strength and endurance, 2) cardiovascular fitness, 3) flexibility, and 4) body composition. Methods: SRFit items were developed from the previously validated Rikli and Jones Senior Fitness Test battery of physical tests. Face-to-face participant interviews were used to refine SRFit item wording. Data from a pilot administration of the SRFit survey were used to guide further revisions of SRFit items. The Senior Fitness Test battery was used to evaluate the four fitness domains. The BodPod was used to measure body composition. Height, weight, and resting blood pressure were measured, and the revised SRFit survey was administered to 108 participants. Results: Forty-five percent of the participants were women and 37% reported being black or in the "other" race category. Mean age was 53.5 ± 8.0 yr and mean body mass index was 30.6 ± 8.8 kg·m(-2). Mean ± SD SRFit summary scores and correlations found between summary and fitness test scores were as follows: upper body strength = 12.8 ± 2.4, r = 0.59, P < 0.001; lower body strength = 12.6 ± 2.6, r = 0.68, P < 0.001; upper body flexibility (left side) = 12.3 ± 2.8, r = 0.47, P < 0.001; upper body flexibility (right side) = 12.4 ± 2.8, r = 0.67, P < 0.001; lower body flexibility = 17.4 ± 3.8, r = 0.55, P < 0.001; cardiovascular endurance = 12.9 ± 2.6, r = 0.66, P < 0.001; body mass index = 7.7 ± 2.23, r = 0.79, P < 0.001; and percent body fat = 7.7 ± 2.2, r = 0.78, P < 0.001. Conclusions: SRFit survey items in each fitness domain were correlated with analogous Senior Fitness Test items, indicating that participants can accurately use the SRFit survey to self-report physical fitness.