Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A)

Objective

The VISA-A (Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles) is a measurement tool used to assess factors such as pain and functional limitations in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (Korakakis et al., 2021).

Interpretation

A maximum score of 100 points represents an asymptomatic patient. The lower the score, the more severe the symptoms, indicating a greater limitation in physical activity (Kaux et al., 2016).

Execution

The scale consists of 8 questions to be answered by the patient. Questions 1–3 relate to pain, questions 4–6 to function, and questions 7–8 to activity (Kaux et al., 2016; Comins et al., 2021; Korakakis et al., 2021). The first seven questions are scored on a scale of 0 to 10, and question 8 has a maximum score of 30, for a total score of 100 points (Kaux et al., 2016).

Duration

5 minutes (Kaux et al., 2016).

Equipment

None.

Clinical Value

In terms of reliability, the VISA-A has good test-retest reliability (r = 0.93) as well as good intra- and inter-examiner reliability (r = 0.90 and r = 0.90). It also demonstrates good stability at a one-week interval (R = 0.81) (Robinson et al., 2001).

In terms of validity, the VISA-A score was significantly correlated with both the Percy and Conochie severity grade (Spearman r = 0.58, p <0.01) and the Curwin and Stanish severity grade (Spearman r = –0.57, p < 0.001) (Comins et al., 2021).

Comins, J., V. Siersma, C. Couppe, R. B. Svensson, F. Johansen, N. M. Malmgaard-Clausen, and S. P. Magnusson. “Assessment of content validity and psychometric properties of VISA-A for Achilles tendinopathy.” PLOS ONE 16, no. 3 (2021): e0247152.

Kaux, J.-F., F. Delvaux, J. Oppong-Kyei, N. Dardenne, C. Beaudart, F. Buckinx, et al. “Validity and reliability of the French translation of the VISA-A questionnaire for Achilles tendinopathy.” Disability and Rehabilitation 38, no. 26 (2016): 2593–99.

Korakakis, V., A. Kotsifaki, M. Stefanakis, Y. Sotiralis, R. Whiteley, and K. Thorborg. “Evaluating lower limb tendinopathy with Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment (VISA) questionnaires: a systematic review shows very-low-quality evidence for their content and structural validity—part I.” Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 29, no. 9 (2021): 2749–64.

Robinson, J. M., J. L. Cook, C. Purdam, P. J. Visentini, J. Ross, N. Maffulli, J. E. Taunton, K. M. Khan, and Victorian Institute of Sport Tendon Study Group. “The VISA-A Questionnaire: A Valid and Reliable Index of the Clinical Severity of Achilles Tendinopathy.” British Journal of Sports Medicine 35, no. 5 (October 2001): 335–41.