About the VISA-P
The VISA-P (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella) questionnaire is a validated, self-administered tool designed to assess the severity of patellar tendinopathy symptoms. It consists of eight questions that comprehensively evaluate pain levels, functional capacity in daily activities, and ability to participate in sports. The questionnaire is widely used by physiotherapists, orthopaedic surgeons, and sports medicine specialists to monitor patient progress and evaluate treatment outcomes. It is particularly valuable for assessing athletes with jumper's knee and tracking recovery over time.
Medical Specialties
Anatomic Areas
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
Developed by the Victorian Institute of Sport Tendon Study Group, led by Visentini PJ, Khan KM, Cook JL, Kiss ZS, Harcourt PR, and Wark JD. First published in 1998 in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. The questionnaire was specifically designed to provide a simple, reliable instrument for assessing the severity of symptoms in patients with patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee).
Copyright & Licensing
The VISA-P questionnaire is freely available for use in clinical practice and research settings without licensing fees or restrictions. It may be reproduced and used without permission from the developers, though proper citation of the original validation study is encouraged.
Administration Instructions
Answer each question honestly about pain in your knee cap region over the past week. Select the response that best describes your symptoms.
Scoring Methodology
The VISA-P comprises eight questions with a maximum total score of 100 points. Questions 1-6 use a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scored from 0 to 10, where 10 represents optimal health and no pain. Question 7 presents four categorical response options scored as 0, 4, 7, or 10 points. Question 8 assesses the duration of pain-free training or sports participation, with scoring based on time duration. All item scores are summed to produce a total score ranging from 0 (worst symptoms) to 100 (asymptomatic). Higher scores indicate better function and fewer symptoms.
Meaningful Change Threshold
A minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 13 points has been established for the VISA-P. Changes of 13 points or more indicate a clinically meaningful improvement or deterioration in patellar tendinopathy symptoms. A score below 80 may indicate the presence of patellar tendinopathy requiring clinical attention.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
severe
0 - 49Severe symptoms with major functional impairment. Patient has substantial limitations in daily activities and sports participation, with persistent pain affecting quality of life.
moderate
50 - 69Moderate symptoms with significant functional limitations. Patient experiences regular pain during activities and may need to reduce training intensity or frequency.
mild
70 - 89Mild symptoms with some functional limitations. Patient may experience occasional pain during or after activity but can generally maintain sports participation with minor modifications.
asymptomatic
90 - 100Excellent function with minimal or no symptoms. Patient is able to participate fully in sports and daily activities without limitation.
Clinical Limitations & Considerations
While the VISA-P is a widely validated and reliable instrument, it has several limitations: (1) The questionnaire may not capture all aspects of patellar tendinopathy, particularly psychological factors and quality of life impacts. (2) Some studies suggest the need for further validation across diverse populations, languages, and cultural contexts. (3) Question 8 regarding training duration may be less applicable to non-athletic populations. (4) The questionnaire focuses specifically on patellar tendinopathy and is not suitable for other knee conditions. (5) Ceiling effects may occur in mildly affected individuals or those near recovery.
Supporting Literature
Key validation and development studies for the VISA-P
- 1
The VISA score: an index of severity of symptoms in patients with jumper's knee (patellar tendinosis)
Visentini PJ, Khan KM, Cook JL, Kiss ZS, Harcourt PR, Wark JD, Victorian Institute of Sport Tendon Study Group
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 1998
Related Outcome Measures
Other clinical questionnaires for similar specialties and conditions
VISA-A
An index assessing the severity of Achilles tendinopathy. Evaluates pain, function, and ability to participate in activities and sports. Scoring Breakdown: Questions 1-7 are scored out of 10 each (total 70). Question 8 (activity/pain) is scored out of 30. Total Score: 0-100.
VISA-A (Sedentary)
A modified version of the VISA-A questionnaire designed specifically for sedentary/non-sporting patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Replaces sport-specific questions (hopping, sporting activity) with daily functional activity questions. Two dimensions: Symptoms (Q1-5, 0-50) and Activity (Q6-8, 0-50). Total Score: 0-100.
VISA-G
An index of the severity of greater trochanteric pain syndrome
VISA-H
An index of the severity of proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale
A 13-item self-report questionnaire that assesses subjective symptoms and functional limitations related to anterior knee pain syndrome, scored from 0 to 100.
Oxford Knee Score
A concise questionnaire evaluating knee-related pain and functional ability in patients undergoing total knee replacement.
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