Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Gujarati Version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11)

Background: Kinesiophobia describes a situation where “patient has an excessive, irrational and debilitating fear of movement and activity resulting from a feeling of vulnerability to painful injury or re-injury”. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) evaluates pain-associated fear, which is an important factor in the cognitive assessment of musculoskeletal pain according to the biopsychosocial model. Direct translation into native language helps in making the content culturally relevant and contextually appropriate. Aims: To translate and adapt the TSK-11 into Gujarati language and culture and determine validity and test–retest reliability. Design: Methodological study. Materials and Methods: Permission to translate the scale was taken from the author. The scale was translated into Gujarati as per the World Health Organization guidelines using the forward–backward method. Gujarati translation was done by a Gujarati translator. An expert panel of seven professionals (five—physiotherapist; two—orthopedic surgeons) determined the content validity. Following their suggestions, a validated Gujarati version TSK-11-G-1 was made. Backward translation was done by a translator. A pilot study was conducted on five patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders to determine fluency, ease, and understanding. Suggestions were added, and a final Gujarati version TSK-11-G-2 was made. This version was administered on 15 participants to find out inter-rater reliability and Cronbach α with a 2-day interval. Results: The Gujarati version of the TSK-11 has high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.97) and interclass correlation coefficient = 0.95. We found high face validity and scale level content validity index = 0.93. Conclusions: The Gujarati version of TSK-11 is valid and reliable.