Systematic review of the psychometric properties of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Achilles tendinopathy questionnaire

Abstract

Objective

To review the different versions of The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Achilles questionnaire for Achilles tendinopathy to evaluate its psychometric properties and the methodological quality of these studies.

Methods

This study is a systematic review.

Setting

A search was conducted in the PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Google Scholar databases, based on the following inclusion criteria: population with Achilles tendinopathy >18 years; validation studies of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire, in different languages, with no time limit. Two of the present authors independently assessed the quality of the studies located and extracted the relevant data. Terwee’s criteria and the COSMIN checklist were employed to ensure adequate methodological quality.

Results

Eleven instruments met the inclusion criteria for this review. Significant methodological flaws were detected, mostly regarding construct validity and responsiveness.

Conclusions

The cultural adaptation of the Spanish-language and Brazilian-Portuguese-language VISA-A presents adequate methodological quality. However, further studies are required, with greater methodological rigor, of the cultural adaptations of measurement instruments.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• On available evidence, the Spanish-language and Brazilian-Portuguese language versions of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Achilles questionnaire are the most appropriate for patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

• Robust methods should be designed and implemented to obtain higher quality instruments for patients with Achilles tendinopathy to be used systematically in daily clinical practice.

• Most previous transcultural versions of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Achilles tendinopathy questionnaire have presented inadequate evidence of their psychometric properties and should be used with caution for patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

Keywords:

• Achilles tendon
• tendinopathy
• psychometrics
• systematic review
• VISA

Disclosure statement

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest derived from the outcomes of this study.