Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the “kinesthetic and visual imagery questionnaire” into Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract

Introduction: Motor imagery could be defined as a neurocognitive technique that consists of the ability to imagining or simulating motor actions consciously, without actually executing them (JENNEAROD, 1995). Motor imagery shares neural mechanisms with movement execution, but without overt motor output. Applying this technique as a therapeutic resource is called mental practice. For the therapeutic use of motor imagery, it's important to be able to evaluate imagery ability and how vivid are the imagined movements. Due to that, the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) was developed. Objective: The objective of this article is to translate and adapt this instrument to Brazilian Portuguese. Methods: The translating and adaptation process was organized in 10 phases: 1. Preparation - methodology definition; 2. Direct translation - translate the instrument to Portuguese (2 versions); 3. Reconciliation - consensual version elaboration (Cv); 4. Back-Translation - translate Cv back to English; 5-6. Back translation review and harmonization - review of back-translations by an expert committee and preparation of the First Brazilian Version (BV1); 7. Pre-test - apply BV1 to the target audience; 8. Pre-test review and finalization - analysis the target audience's answers and applying the content validity ratio, 9. Final review - carried by a Brazilian Portuguese teacher, definition of the final Brazilian version and 10. Final report - preparation of a descriptive report of the process. Results: Four or the movements described at the instrument and the instructions were reviewed by the specialist committee after the pre-rest to reach a content validity ratio of at least 0.8. Conclusion: In conclusion, after finishing the operational process, a Brazilian Portuguese version of the KVIQ-20 was created, respecting the original objective of the instrument and adapting it to the Brazilian target audience.