Background: This study aims to evaluate the validity of the Visual Analog Scale-Tension (VAS-T). Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 100 patients with chronic pain and 100 individuals without pain complaints between April 2021 and April 2022. All participants completed a sociodemographic information form, the Visual Analog Scale for Tension (VAS-T), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Additionally, patients with chronic pain completed the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS-P) and algometer assessments. The discriminant, concurrent, and convergent validity of the VAS-T was evaluated. Results: Concerning discriminant validity, analyses revealed that individuals in the pain group exhibited significantly higher VAS-T scores compared to the control group ( p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between VAS-T scores, muscle tension algometer scores, and anxiety, stress, and alexithymia levels ( p < 0.01). Participants reporting low tension on the VAS-T differed significantly from those reporting high tension regarding these variables ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: The self-reported VAS-T is a rapid, practical and valid self-reported tool for assessing muscle tension.
Demir et al. (Wed,) studied this question.