Measurement properties of the numerical pain rating scale in patients with musculoskeletal impairments of the limbs – a systematic literature review

Abstract

Background: Pain intensity is often assessed using the numerical rating scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 10. It can be administered verbally or in a written format. The purpose was to review its measurement properties in patients with mus-culoskeletal impairments of the limbs. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL and the Cochrane library. Results: Thirteen studies were included. Very good to excellent test-retest reliability of the numeric pain rating scale was found in patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the limbs. Correlations with the visual analogue scale and verbal rating scale were very good to excellent, which confirms the construct validity. Minimal important difference is 2 points. Conclusion: The numerical rating scale is a reliable and valid tool for pain assessment in patients with musculoskeletal impairments of the limbs. We cannot confirm better measurement properties for written or verbal version. The evaluation should follow detailed patient instructions.