Translation and cultural adaptation to Italian language of the Micheli Functional Scale, an instrument to evaluate low back pain in young athletes

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among children and adolescents engaged in sports has increased, highlighting the need for a specific tool to assess this condition in young athletes. The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Micheli Functional Scale (MFS) into Italian and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Italian version (IMFS).METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the IMFS in young athletes with LBP. The MFS was translated and culturally adapted into Italian using a forward and backward translation process. Its psychometric properties were then assessed. The IMFS was administered to young athletes with and without LBP, and its outcomes were compared with the Italian versions of the Functional Rating Index (FRI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).RESULTS: A total of 151 young athletes (mean age: 18.46±2.76 years) participated in the study, of whom 101 had LBP and 50 did not. The MFS showed a significant correlation with the FRI (r=0.864; P<0.05) and the VAS (r=0.921). The internal consistency was good (Cronbach’s α=0.791), and test-retest reliability was high (ICC=0.928), confirming the robustness of the instrument.CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the IMFS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing LBP in young athletes. Its strong psychometric properties suggest its suitability for both clinical and research settings, providing an effective means of evaluating functional impairment related to LBP in this population.