Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)

Purpose:
The GSRS helps you and your coach/nutritionist monitor your gastrointestinal (GI) health during training and competition. It identifies potential issues caused by diet, hydration, or exercise stress, allowing for tailored solutions.

Takes approximately 3-5 minutes

The GSRS is a disease-specific instrument. The 15 items combine into five symptom clusters: Reflux, Abdominal pain, Indigestion, Diarrhoea and Constipation. The reliability and validity of the GSRS are well-documented, and norm values for a general population are available. The original questionnaire is an interview-based rating scale but has been modified to become a self administered questionnaire.

How to Complete the GSRS

When to Fill It Out:

Complete the form weekly or after key training sessions (e.g., long runs, race simulations).
Use the form during taper periods and after races to track symptom changes.

Instructions:

Answer all 15 questions based on how you felt during the past 7 days.
Rate each symptom on a scale of 1 to 7:

1 = No discomfort
7 = Severe discomfort

Tips for Athletes

Be Honest: Even mild symptoms are important to note.
Track Patterns: Use your scores to identify recurring issues (e.g., bloating after a specific meal).
Note Other Factors: If you experience symptoms, consider what might have contributed (e.g., new foods, training intensity, dehydration).

Name

First Name

Last Name

Upper abdominal pain

Have you been bothered by PAIN OR DISCOMFORT in your upper abdomen or the pit of your stomach during the past week?

Heartburn

Have you been bothered by HEARTBURN during the past week? (an unpleasant stinging or burning sensation in the chest)

Acid reflux

Have you been bothered by ACID REFLUX during the past week? (By acid reflux we mean the sensation of regurgitating small quantities of acid or flow of sour or bitter fluid from the stomach up to the throat.)

Hunger pains

Have you been bothered by HUNGER PAINS in the stomach during the past week? (This hollow feeling in the stomach is associated with the need to eat between meals).

Nausea

Have you been bothered by NAUSEA during the past week? (By nausea we mean a feeling of sickness that may lead to retching and vomiting)

Stomach rumbling

Have you been bothered by RUMBLING in your stomach during the past week? (Rumbling refers to vibrations or noise in the stomach.)

Bloating

Has your stomach felt BLOATED during the past week? (Feeling bloated refers to swelling often associated with a sensation of gas or air in the stomach)

Burping / Belching

Have you been bothered by BURPING / BELCHING during the past week? (Burping, or belching, refers to the release of wind from the stomach via the mouth, often associated with easing a bloated feeling)

Passing gas / Breaking wind

Have you been bothered by PASSING GAS / BREAKING WIND during the past week? (Breaking wind refers to the need to release air or gas from the bowel, often associated with easing a bloated feeling.)

Constipation

Have you been bothered by CONSTIPATION during the past week? (Constipation refers to a reduced ability to empty the bowels)

Diarrhoea

Have you been bothered by DIARRHOEA during the past week? (Diarrhoea refers to a too frequent emptying of the bowels)

Loose stools

Have you been bothered by LOOSE STOOLS during the past week? (If your stools (motions) have been alternately hard and loose, this question only refers to the extent you have been bothered by the stools being loose.)

Hard stools

Have you been bothered by HARD STOOLS during the past week? (If your stools (motions) have been alternately hard and loose, this question only refers to the extent you have been bothered by the stools being hard)

Urgent need to defecate

Have you been bothered by an URGENT NEED TO HAVE A BOWEL MOVEMENT during the past week? (This urgent need to go to the toilet is often associated with a feeling that you are not in full control)

Incomplete bowel emptying

When going to the toilet during the past week, have you had the SENSATION OF NOT COMPLETELY EMPTYING THE BOWELS? (This feeling of incomplete emptying means that you still feel a need to pass your motions despite having exerted yourself to do so)