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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Induction and Assessment of Exertional Skeletal Muscle Damage in Humans
Published on: December 11, 2016
Convergent evidence for construct validity of a 7-point likert scale of lower limb muscle soreness
Franco M Impellizzeri1, Nicola A Maffiuletti
1Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland. franco.impellizzeri@kws.ch
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of the 7-point Likert scale of muscle soreness, assessing its relationship with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). An additional aim was to examine its sensitivity as measure of symptom of eccentric-contraction muscle damage.
Design:
Correlational study.
Setting:
Self-administered questionnaires collected in field setting.
Participants:
Twenty-six soccer players.
Interventions:
4-week preseason training camp, which included high-intensity plyometric training sessions.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Players self-reported the perceived muscle soreness of the lower limbs using the VAS (criterion measure) and the 7-point Likert scale of muscle soreness.
Results:
Significant individual correlations were found between the 2 muscle soreness scales (mean r=0.80+/-0.07; range, 0.65 to 0.94). The correlation using the pooled data was 0.81. No significant muscle soreness scale x time interaction was found for standardized measures of muscle soreness (P=0.98). The main factor for time (24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after the first plyometric training session) was significant (P=0.0001). Effect sizes for the changes in the Likert and VAS absolute scores during the first 96 hours were similar (partial eta=0.13).
Conclusions:
The results of this study provide further convergent evidence for the construct validity of the 7-point Likert scale of muscle soreness. The 2 scales showed similar sensitivity to muscle soreness caused by eccentric contractions during the first 96 hours after plyometric exercises.
