Key facts
- Score direction
- Higher is better
- Meaningful change
- A change of 5 points per dimension (Symptoms or Activity) is considered the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for sedentary patients.
- Scoring
- The VISA-A (Sedentary) consists of 8 questions across two dimensions. Symptoms dimension (Q1-5): Each question scored 0-10, total 0-50. Activity dimension (Q6-8): Q6 scored 0-10, Q7 scored 0/4/7/10, Q8 scored 0-30 with t…
- Time to complete
- 5 min
- Licensing
- Available free of charge; Patient Watch charges only for platform services
About the VISA-A (Sedentary)
The VISA-A (Sedentary) is a patient-reported outcome measure designed specifically for sedentary patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Unlike the original VISA-A which was designed for athletes, this version replaces sport-specific questions with daily functional activity questions, providing a more accurate assessment of symptom severity and functional capacity in non-sporting individuals.
Medical Specialties
Anatomic Areas
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
Developed by Richard Norris, Seth O'Neill, and colleagues, based on the original VISA-A by Robinson et al. (2001). Developed using COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) recommendations with patient and professional feedback.
Copyright & Licensing
Published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023. Free to use for clinical and research purposes.
Administration Instructions
In this questionnaire, the term "pain" refers specifically to pain in the Achilles tendon region. Please answer all questions based on your current condition.
Scoring Methodology
The VISA-A (Sedentary) consists of 8 questions across two dimensions. Symptoms dimension (Q1-5): Each question scored 0-10, total 0-50. Activity dimension (Q6-8): Q6 scored 0-10, Q7 scored 0/4/7/10, Q8 scored 0-30 with three sub-options (A: no pain, B: pain but does not stop activity, C: pain stops activity). Activity dimension total 0-50. Overall total: 0-100. Higher scores indicate better function and lower severity.
Meaningful Change Threshold
A change of 5 points per dimension (Symptoms or Activity) is considered the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for sedentary patients.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
severe
0 - 30Severe Achilles tendinopathy with significant functional limitation
moderate
31 - 60Moderate Achilles tendinopathy with notable impact on daily activities
mild
61 - 80Mild Achilles tendinopathy with some functional limitation
minimal
81 - 100Minimal or no Achilles tendinopathy symptoms
Subscales
This questionnaire measures multiple dimensions
Activity(0-50)
Measures functional capacity in daily activities (walking distance, daily activity level, Achilles loading activity duration)
Symptoms(0-50)
Measures pain and stiffness in the Achilles region during daily activities (stiffness, stretching, walking, stairs, heel raises)
Clinical Limitations & Considerations
Designed specifically for sedentary/non-sporting patients. Not validated for athletic populations (use the original VISA-A for sports patients). Validated in a sample of 51 sedentary patients with clinically and MRI-confirmed Achilles tendinopathy in UK NHS settings.
Supporting Literature
Key validation and development studies for the VISA-A (Sedentary)
- 1
The VISA-A (sedentary) should be used for sedentary patients with Achilles tendinopathy: a modified version of the VISA-A developed and evaluated in accordance with the COSMIN checklist
Norris R, O'Neill S, Robinson JM, Cook JL, Purdam C
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023
- 2
The VISA-A questionnaire: a valid and reliable index of the clinical severity of Achilles tendinopathy
Robinson JM, Cook JL, Purdam C, Visentini PJ, Ross J, Maffulli N, Taunton JE, Khan KM
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001
- 3
The VISA-A (sedentary) should be used for sedentary patients with Achilles tendinopathy: a modified version of the VISA-A developed and evaluated in accordance with the COSMIN checklist
Norris R, O'Neill S, Robinson JM, Cook JL, Purdam C
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023
- 4
The VISA-A questionnaire: a valid and reliable index of the clinical severity of Achilles tendinopathy
Robinson JM, Cook JL, Purdam C, Visentini PJ, Ross J, Maffulli N, Taunton JE, Khan KM
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001
Frequently asked questions
What does a mild VISA-A (Sedentary) score mean?
A VISA-A (Sedentary) score of 61 to 80 is classified as mild. Mild Achilles tendinopathy with some functional limitation
What does a severe VISA-A (Sedentary) score mean?
A VISA-A (Sedentary) score of 0 to 30 is classified as severe. Severe Achilles tendinopathy with significant functional limitation
What does a minimal VISA-A (Sedentary) score mean?
A VISA-A (Sedentary) score of 81 to 100 is classified as minimal. Minimal or no Achilles tendinopathy symptoms
What does a moderate VISA-A (Sedentary) score mean?
A VISA-A (Sedentary) score of 31 to 60 is classified as moderate. Moderate Achilles tendinopathy with notable impact on daily activities
Related Outcome Measures
Other clinical questionnaires for similar specialties and conditions
VISA-A
An index of the severity of Achilles tendinopathy
VISA-P inverse
An index of the severity of patellar tendinopathy with conventional pain-scale direction for questions 1 to 6
VISA-H Questionnaire
An index of the severity of proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)
A patient-reported outcome measure assessing physical function in foot and ankle disorders. Includes two subscales: activities of daily living and sports.
VISA-P Questionnaire
An index of the severity of patellar tendinopathy
Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS)
A validated 10-item patient-reported outcome measure evaluating symptoms and physical activity limitations following Achilles tendon rupture.
This questionnaire is provided free of charge. Patient Watch charges only for platform services (data storage, automated reminders, analytics) - not for use of clinical instruments. This non-commercial model supports academic and clinical use.View full licensing disclosure