The Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) was developed in military veterans referred for exercise testing as a guide to a person's exercise capacity. This can be used to adapt an exercise protocol to the specific patient. The authors are from the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California.
Instructions to Subject: Draw a line below the activities you are able to do routinely with minimal or no symptoms (shortness of breath, chest discomfort, fatigue, etc.).
|
Work |
Walk/Run |
Activity |
METs |
|
working at desk |
|
eating, getting dressed |
1 |
|
|
walking down 8 steps |
taking a shower |
2 |
|
moderate work around the house |
walking slowly on a flat surface for 1-2 blocks |
|
3 |
|
light yard work; painting or light carpentry |
|
|
4 |
|
washing the car |
walking briskly (4 miles an hour) |
social dancing |
5 |
|
heavy carpentry; mow lawn with push mower |
|
play 9 holes of golf carrying own clubs |
6 |
|
heavy outdoor work; carry 60 pounds |
|
play singles tennis |
7 |
|
moving heavy furniture; carry 20 pounds upstairs |
jog slowly; climb stairs quickly |
|
8 |
|
sawing wood |
|
jumping rope slowly, bicycling at moderate pace |
9 |
|
|
walking briskly uphill; jog at 6 miles per hour |
brisk swimming |
10 |
|
|
|
play basketball full court; cross country ski |
11 |
|
|
running briskly (continuous, 8 miles an hour, level ground) |
|
12 |
|
|
running competitively |
rowing, backpacking |
13 |
where:
• The format above is different from that used in the questionnaire in Table II. The original table has all of the activity columns combined. These were separated out to make programming easier.
• Moderate work around the house includes vacuuming, sweeping the floors or carrying groceries.
• Light yard work includes raking leaves, weeding or pushing a power mower.
Interpretation:
• The endpoint is the highest MET level achieved with no or minimal symptoms.
Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic
ICD-10: ,
