Assessing musculoskeletal complaints in para-athletes: A systematic review and critical appraisal of available Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

Abstract

Objective

To identify the available Patient-reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for assessing musculoskeletal complaints in para-athletes and to evaluate their psychometric properties, ultimately providing recommendations for their use.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ProQuest, and COSMIN Database were searched until October 2024. Full report studies evaluating psychometric properties of PROMs in para-sport participants with musculoskeletal pain were included. The methodology followed the Consensus-based Standards for selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) and PRISMA-COSMIN for OMIs 2024 Guidelines.

Results

Six articles reported information on Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI); Shoulder Pain Scale for Wheelchair Basketball (SPS-WB); and, Shoulder Pain Index for Wheelchair Basketball (SPI-WB). Content validity was inconsistent for WUSPI and SPS-WB. Structural validity was indeterminate for SPS-WB. Internal consistency was sufficient for SPS-WB but indeterminate for WUSPI and SPI-WB. Reliability was sufficient for WUSPI and SPI-WB. Convergent validity was sufficient for WUSPI but indeterminate for SPS-WB and SPI-WB. Discriminative validity was insufficient for WUSPI and SPI-WB and indeterminate for SPS-WB.

Conclusions

Evidence on PROMs for musculoskeletal complaints in para-sports focuses on shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball, showing low to very low-quality evidence. The WUSPI and SPS-WB can be used considering their limitations.