Cross-cultural adaptation in French and validation of Functional Assessment Scale for acute Hamstring injuries

Introduction : Acute hamstring injury is a very common muscle injury particularly in sports that require high explosive strength, sports with impulsions and sports with running phases. Among those sports, the most widespread are soccer, rugby and sprinting. The Functional Assessment Scale for acute Hamstring injuries (FASH) assesses pain, physical activity and how patients realize some exercises while suffering hamstring injury. Current available versons are in English, in German and in Greek.

Objectives : The aims of thus study were to reach a reliable and valid translation and a cross-cultural adaptation of this questionnaire in French.

Methods: FASH translation and adaptation were realized in respect of international guidelines. The population composed of 116 subjects filled the questionnaire twice separated by 48-60th. FASH reliability and validity were assessed thanks to SF-36 allowing us to assess the test re-test reliability (with intra-class correlation ICC), internal consistency (with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and construct validity, with Spearman’s correlation coefficients).

Results : ICC showed a strong correlation between test and re-test (ICC total=0.9985). Internal consistency was also found to be strong with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.98. Correlation between FASH and SF-36 overall score was considered as strong (Rs=0.69, p<0.0001). Correlation with SF-36 sub scales (PF, RP, BP) were also considered as strong, showing their convergent validity. Other SF-36 subclass (GH, MH, REm, SF, VT) displayed a moderate correlation with FASH questionnaire, showing their divergent validity. No floor or ceiling effect was observed.

Conclusions: FASH translation and cross-cultural adaptation into French can be considered as successful. FASF-F is now a reliable and valid tool for patients suffering acute hamstring injury.