VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE SINGLE-ITEM KINESIOPHOBIA SCALE IN PERSONS WITH NECK AND BACK PAIN

Purpose: Kinesiophobia is a significant concern in individuals with neck and back pain. This study aimed to evaluate the measurement properties of the Single-Item Kinesiophobia Scale (SKS) including test-retest reliability and convergent validity. Material and Methods: A total of 101 participants (n=38 with neck pain and n=63 with back pain) were included. The SKS was applied twice 7-14 days apart. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Validity was examined through correlations with established measures: the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during activity and rest. Floor/ceiling effects and score distribution were also analyzed. Results: The SKS demonstrated moderate test-retest reliability [neck pain: ICC=0.56 (95%CI: 0.30-0.75), back pain: 0.52 (95%CI: 0.31-0.68)] in both groups. It showed moderate correlations with the TSK (neck pain: rho= 0.446; back pain: rho=0.555), but only small correlations with the VAS (rho=0.261-0.265) and the ODI (rho=0.278) in the back pain group. No significant correlations were found between the SKS and VAS or NDI in the neck pain group. Conclusion: The SKS is a simple and feasible screening tool for kinesiophobia but should be used alongside comprehensive measures due to its moderate psychometric properties and limitations.