Validation of the VISA-A questionnaire for Turkish language: the VISA-A-Tr study

Objectives To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire for patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Design Fifty-five patients with a diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy and 55 healthy subjects were included in the study. VISA-A questionnaires were translated and culturally adapted into Turkish. The final Turkish version (VISA-A-Tr) was tested for reliability on healthy individuals and patients. Tests for internal consistency, validity and structure were performed on 55 patients. Results The VISA-A-Tr showed good test-retest reliability (Pearson's r=0.99, p < 0.001). The patients with Achilles tendinopathy had a significantly lower score (p < 0.001) than the healthy individuals. The VISA-A-Tr score correlated significantly with the Stanish tendon grading system (Spearman's r=-0.86; p < 0.001). Conclusion The VISA-A-Tr is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating the severity of Achilles tendinopathy.