The VISA-A questionnaire: a valid and reliable index of the clinical severity of Achilles tendinopathy

J M Robinson, J L Cook, C Purdam, P J Visentini, J Ross, N Maffulli, J E Taunton, K M Khan, Victorian Institute Of Sport Tendon Study Group, J M Robinson, J L Cook, C Purdam, P J Visentini, J Ross, N Maffulli, J E Taunton, K M Khan, Victorian Institute Of Sport Tendon Study Group

Abstract

Background: There is no disease specific, reliable, and valid clinical measure of Achilles tendinopathy.

Objective: To develop and test a questionnaire based instrument that would serve as an index of severity of Achilles tendinopathy.

Methods: Item generation, item reduction, item scaling, and pretesting were used to develop a questionnaire to assess the severity of Achilles tendinopathy. The final version consisted of eight questions that measured the domains of pain, function in daily living, and sporting activity. Results range from 0 to 100, where 100 represents the perfect score. Its validity and reliability were then tested in a population of non-surgical patients with Achilles tendinopathy (n = 45), presurgical patients with Achilles tendinopathy (n = 14), and two normal control populations (total n = 87).

Results: The VISA-A questionnaire had good test-retest (r = 0.93), intrarater (three tests, r = 0.90), and interrater (r = 0.90) reliability as well as good stability when compared one week apart (r = 0.81). The mean (95% confidence interval) VISA-A score in the non-surgical patients was 64 (59-69), in presurgical patients 44 (28-60), and in control subjects it exceeded 96 (94-99). Thus the VISA-A score was higher in non-surgical than presurgical patients (p = 0.02) and higher in control subjects than in both patient populations (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The VISA-A questionnaire is reliable and displayed construct validity when means were compared in patients with a range of severity of Achilles tendinopathy and control subjects. The continuous numerical result of the VISA-A questionnaire has the potential to provide utility in both the clinical setting and research. The test is not designed to be diagnostic. Further studies are needed to determine whether the VISA-A score predicts prognosis.

References

    1. Clin J Sport Med. 1996 Jul;6(3):163-70
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1997 Nov-Dec;25(6):835-40
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1998 May-Jun;26(3):360-6
    1. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1998 May-Jun;6(3):157-64
    1. J Sci Med Sport. 1998 Jan;1(1):22-8
    1. Clin J Sport Med. 1998 Jul;8(3):151-4
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1998 Nov-Dec;26(6):764-72
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1999 May-Jun;27(3):345-9
    1. Clin J Sport Med. 1999 Jul;9(3):129-37
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1999 Nov-Dec;27(6):831
    1. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 Feb;88(2):774-87
    1. Sports Med. 2000 Feb;29(2):135-46
    1. Am J Sports Med. 2000 Mar-Apr;28(2):183-90
    1. J Ultrasound Med. 2000 Jul;19(7):473-9
    1. Am J Sports Med. 2000 Sep-Oct;28(5):634-42
    1. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2001;9(1):42-7
    1. Lancet. 1974 Nov 9;2(7889):1127-31
    1. Rheumatol Rehabil. 1976 Aug;15(3):185-7
    1. Rheumatol Rehabil. 1977 Nov;16(4):257-9
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1978 May-Jun;6(3):132-6
    1. Ann Rheum Dis. 1978 Aug;37(4):378-81
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1982 May-Jun;10(3):150-4
    1. Pain. 1983 Sep;17(1):45-56
    1. Pain. 1986 Dec;27(3):401-11
    1. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1989 May;18(4 Suppl 2):14-7
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1989 May-Jun;17(3):338-43
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1991 Mar-Apr;19(2):112-8
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1994 Jul-Aug;22(4):462-9
    1. Sports Med. 1994 Sep;18(3):173-201
    1. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1995;3(1):26-33
    1. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1995 Aug;(317):150-8
    1. Foot Ankle Int. 1996 Jan;17(1):2-9
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1996 Nov-Dec;24(6):829-33
    1. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1996 Oct;6(5):291-6
    1. Foot Ankle Int. 1997 Jul;18(7):443-6
    1. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1998 Jan;(346):152-61

Source: PubMed

Patrocinadores y Colaboradores

Condiciones médicas

Intervenciones de drogas

3
Suscribir