The 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-9) has adequate measurement properties in patients with chronic low back pain.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia in patients with chronic low back pain.

Design: Questionnaire validation study.

Setting: Study was conducted in an online environment.

Participants: We included people aged 18 to 50 years with self-reported low back pain lasting > three months and assessed the Pain-Related Catastrophizing Thoughts Scale and the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia.

Main measures: We used intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, minimum detectable change, and Cronbach's alpha to assess the reliability and internal consistency of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. We tested correlations between the domains of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and the other variables to assess construct validity.

Results: A total of 174 participants with chronic low back pain were included in the analysis. No ceiling or floor effect was found. In terms of construct validity, there was a positive correlation between the domains of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and the other variables. In the reliability analysis, there was adequate test-retest reliability of the two domains of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia: intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99, standard error of measurement = 3.4%, and minimum detectable change = 9.6% for the activity avoidance domain; and intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99, standard error of measurement = 3.5%, and minimum detectable change = 9.9% for the somatic focus domain. There was acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.68) for both domains.

Conclusion: The 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia has adequate measurement properties in patients with chronic low back pain.