An evaluation of pre-exercise screening questionnaires used within the health and fitness industry in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ) and its successor the Revised Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (rPARQ) were designed to offer a safe pre-exercise screen for those wishing to undertake exercise. The rPARQ was created in order to reduce the number of people who were unnecessarily excluded from exercising by PARQ. This study compared the two questionnaires against each other and used the RISKO Coronary Heart Disease Risk Appraisal Form in order to ascertain the sensitivity of them both. In addition, the results were compared with those published in similar studies in North America. Fifty volunteers, from a South Wiltshire leisure centre, were screened using the PARQ, rPARQ and the RISKO. Having completed the three questionnaires, the subjects were then interviewed and finally had their blood pressure measured. The results showed that the number of subjects excluded by the PARQ was significantly ( p<0.05) higher than the rPARQ. Comparisons between this study and North American studies revealed that both the PARQ and the rPARQ excluded significantly more subjects in the United Kingdom. This study highlighted flaws in the screening questionnaires when used with a United Kingdom population. These flaws, including high exclusion rates (compared with North American studies), could have serious implications given the projected growth in health and fitness participation in the United Kingdom.