Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Short Form and Lower Extremity Specific Limitations

Background: We compared the amount of variation in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information SystemPhysical Function (PROMIS PF) Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) accounted for by The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia(TSK) and its short form (TSK-4) independent of other factors. Questionnaire coverage, reliability, and validitywere compared for both TSK and TSK-4 using mean scaled scores, internal consistency, floor and ceiling effects,interquestionnaire correlations, and collinearity with other measures as the Pain Catastrophizing Scale short form(PCS-4), PROMIS Depression CAT, and PROMIS Pain Interference (PROMIS PI) CAT.Methods: One hundred forty eight consecutive new or return patients were enrolled. Patients were seen in an outpatientsetting in several orthopaedic clinics in a large urban area. All patients completed the TSK, PROMIS PF CAT, PROMISPI CAT, PROMIS Depression CAT, and PCS-4.Results: Greater fear of movement (higher TSK) was associated with worse physical function (lower PROMIS PF CAT)and the full TSK explained more variation in physical function than the short form (TSK-4). In contrast to prior studiesPCS-4 was not independent of TSK. Flooring and ceiling effects were seen with TSK-4. Worse physical function wasassociated with older age, traumatic condition, and more symptoms of depression.Conclusion: The short form of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia can be used as a brief screening measure in patientcare and research in order to identify an independent influence of kinesiophobia on lower extremity specific limitations.Additional study is needed to determine whether there is utility in screening for both TSK and PCS or if one or theother provides sufficient information about cognitive biases regarding pain to guide treatment with cognitive behavioraltherapy and related techniques.Level of evidence: II