• Bhagwant S Sindhu, Orit Shechtman, and Laura Tuckey.
• Department of Occupational Science and Technology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA. sindhu@uwm.edu
• J Hand Ther. 2011 Oct 1;24(4):356-63; quiz 364.

UnlabelledThe design used in this study was a prospective cohort. Pain intensity levels recorded by the digital version of the visual analog scale (VAS-D) are easy to both score and share with other health care professionals. The purpose of the study was to examine the test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and responsiveness of the VAS-D. Thirty-three people with upper extremity injuries reported pain intensity levels before and after performing four maximal grip contractions (pre- and postgripping). Our version of the VAS-D had high test-retest reliability (r=0.96) and good concurrent validity (r=0.84-0.97) with both the paper version of the VAS (VAS-P) and the verbal numerical rating scale (NRS-V). Responsiveness of the VAS-D was indicated by a significant increase in pain levels from pre- to postgripping. Similar responsiveness to that of the VAS-P and NRS-V was indicated by similar effect size coefficients and analysis of variance of pain change scores. In conclusion, the VAS-D is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of pain intensity for people with upper extremity injuries. However, differences in accuracy (resolution) among the VAS-D, VAS-P, or NRS-V may render the three pain scales not fully compatible.Level Of EvidenceNot applicable.Copyright © 2011 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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