Cutoff values of the Physical Activity Questionnaire in Adolescents (PAQ-A) and their relationships with morphophysiological variables in rural and urban populations

Background Assessing physical activity levels and their associations with morphophysiological variables is crucial for promoting adolescent health and guiding interventions. This study aimed to: (a) categorize physical activity levels using percentiles from the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), (b) compare morphophysiological variables (grip strength, reaction time, foot morphology) across genders and rural/urban settings, and (c) analyze correlations between physical activity and these variables in adolescents. Methods A descriptive, correlational, and comparative study with a mixed-methods approach was conducted with 80 adolescents (15–17 years) from Huila, Colombia. Physical activity was measured with the PAQ-A, and variables including right-hand grip strength, reaction time, plantar footprint, and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI) were assessed. The data were analyzed using MANOVA, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlations, and chi-square tests. Results Physical activity levels were categorized into percentiles: 25th = 1.89, 50th = 2.46, 75th = 2.90. Significant regional differences were found in plantar footprint (p ≤ 0.05), with higher values in rural adolescents, and gender differences in height, grip strength, and reaction time (p ≤ 0.05), with males outperforming females. Small to moderate correlations were observed between PAQ-A scores and grip strength (r = 0.24, p ≤ 0.05) and reaction time (r = -0.37, p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions The PAQ-A (Cronbach’s α = 0.86) is reliable for categorizing adolescent physical activity. Higher activity levels may be linked to greater grip strength and faster reaction times, with gender and regional differences in foot morphology and physical performance. However, memory and social desirability biases in the PAQ-A may affect the accuracy of associations. Tailored interventions and objective measurements in future studies are needed to optimize physical fitness and physical outcomes in adolescents.