Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Thai version of the kinesthetic and visual motor imagery questionnaire

Abstract Objectives In order to harness the benefits of mental practice training for enhancing mobility in the older adults. Assessing an individual’s motor imagery ability is essential for selecting the most appropriate motor learning approach. Consequently, there is a need for reliable motor imagery assessment tools designed specifically for older adults. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) measures, on a five-point ordinal scale, the clarity of mental images (visual: V subscale) and the intensity of sensations (kinesthetic: K subscale) that individuals can envision from a first-person perspective. This study aimed to 1) develop a translated and culturally adapted Thai version of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ-T), and 2) evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale within the elderly population. Methods We adhered to the guidelines outlined by Beaton, Bombardier C, Guillemin F, Ferraz MB. Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine 2000;25. Initially, two translators (one informed and one uninformed) translated the questionnaires. Subsequently, the translations were synthesized and resolved. Following that, back translation was conducted by two translators proficient in both Thai and English, who lacked expertise in imagery. Finally, a consensus on the pre-final version of KVIQ-T was reached by five experts. Reliability was examined for internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The factor analysis was used for assessing the structural validity. Participants aged 60–75 years, capable of independent walking for over 10 m, without severe cognitive impairment or severe depression, were included. Exclusion criteria comprised neurological diseases, orthopedic injuries affecting balance, and vision function issues. Seventy participants participants aged 66.38 ± 3.80 years (min=60, max=75), %male 20.5, BMI 24.50 ± 3.50 kg/m2 were asked to complete Thai version of Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire. The statistical analysis indicated that the internal consistency reliability, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, was 0.970 for the visual subscale and 0.974 for the kinesthetic subscale. The factor analysis validated the bifactorial structure of the KVIQ-T and delineated two factors that distinctly differentiate between the visual and kinesthetic subscales, exhibiting a correlation of r=0.674. Factor 1 accounts for 68.906 % and Factor 2 accounts for 12.193 % of the total variance. Conclusions The KVIQ-T is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating motor imagery capabilities within the Thai older population.