Oswestry Disability Index

Full Name *

Date *

This questionnaire has been designed to give us information as to how your back or leg pain is affecting your ability to manage in everyday life. Please answer by marking ONE statement in each section for the statement which best applies to you. We realise you may consider that two or more statements in any one section apply but please just shade out the spot that indicates the statement which most clearly describes your problem.

Section 1 – Pain intensity *

0. I have no pain at the moment

1. The pain is very mild at the moment

2. The pain is moderate at the moment

3. The pain is fairly severe at the moment

4. The pain is very severe at the moment

5. The pain is the worst imaginable at the moment

Section 2 – Personal care (washing, dressing etc) *

0. I can look after myself normally without causing extra pain

1. I can look after myself normally but it causes extra pain

2. The pain is fairly severe at the moment

3. I need some help but manage most of my personal care

4. I need help every day in most aspects of self-care

5. I do not get dressed, I wash with difficulty and stay in bed

Section 3 – Lifting *

0. I can lift heavy weights without extra pain

1. I can lift heavy weights but it gives extra pain

2. Pain prevents me from lifting heavy weights off the floor, but I can manage if they are conveniently placed eg. on a table

3. Pain prevents me from lifting heavy weights, but I can manage light to medium weights if they are conveniently positioned

4. I can lift very light weights

5. I cannot lift or carry anything at all

Section 4 – Walking* *

0. Pain does not prevent me walking any distance

1. Pain prevents me from walking more than 1 mile

2. Pain prevents me from walking more than 1/2 mile

3. Pain prevents me from walking more than 100 yards

4. I can only walk using a stick or crutches

5. I am in bed most of the time

Section 5 – Sitting *

0. I can sit in any chair as long as I like

1. I can only sit in my favourite chair as long as I like

2. Pain prevents me sitting more than one hour

3. Pain prevents me from sitting more than 30 minutes

4. Pain prevents me from sitting more than 10 minutes

5. Pain prevents me from sitting at all

Section 6 – Standing

0. I can stand as long as I want without extra pain

1. I can stand as long as I want but it gives me extra pain

2. Pain prevents me from standing for more than 1 hour

3. Pain prevents me from standing for more than 3

4. Pain prevents me from standing for more than 10 minutes

5. Pain prevents me from standing at all

Section 7 - Sex Life *

0. My sex life is normal and causes no extra pain

1. My sex life is normal but causes some extra pain

2. My sex life is nearly normal but is very painful

3. My sex life is severely restricted by pain

4. My sex life is nearly absent because of pain

5. Pain prevents any sex life at all

Secton 8 - Social Life *

0. My social life is normal and gives me no extra pain

1. My social life is normal but increases the degree of pain

2. Pain has no significant effect on my social life apart from limiting my more energetic interests eg, sport

3. Pain has restricted my social life and I do not go out as often

4. Pain has restricted my social life to my home

5. I have no social life because of pain

Section 9 - Travelling *

0. I can travel anywhere without pain

1. I can travel anywhere but it gives me extra pain

2. Pain is bad but I manage journeys over two hours

3. Pain restricts me to journeys of less than one hour

4. Pain restricts me to short necessary journeys under 30 minutes

Section 10 – Employment *

0. My normal homemaking/job activities do not cause pain

1. My normal homemaking/job activities increase my pain, but I can still perform all that is required of me.

2. I can perform most of my homemaking/job duties, but pain prevents me from performing more physically stressful activities (e.g. lifting, vacuuming)

3. I can perform most of my homemaking/ job duties, but pain prevents me from performing more physically stressful activities (e.g. lifting, vacuuming)

4. Pain prevents me from doing anything but light duties.

5. Pain prevents me from performing any job or homemaking chores.

The Oswestry Disability Index (also known as the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire) is an extremely important tool that researchers and disability evaluators use to measure a patient's permanent functional disability. The test is considered the ‘gold standard’ of low back functional outcome tools [1].

Scoring Instructions

For each section the total possible score is 5: if the first statement is marked the section score = 0; if the last statement is marked, it = 5. If all 10 sections are completed the score is calculated as follows:

Example:

16 (total scored)

50 (total possible score) x 100 = 32%

If one section is missed or not applicable the score is calculated:

16 (total scored)

45 (total possible score) x 100 = 35.5%

Minimum detectable change (90% confidence): 10% points (change of less than this may be attributable to error in the measurement)

Interpretation of Scores

0% to 20%: minimal disability: The patient can cope with most living activities. Usually no treatment is indicated apart from advice on lifting sitting and exercise.

21%-40%: moderate disability: The patient experiences more pain and difficulty with sitting, lifting and standing. Travel and social life are more difficult and they may be disabled from work. Personal care, sexual activity and sleeping are not grossly affected and the patient can usually be managed by conservative means.

41%-60%: severe disability: Pain remains the main problem in this group but activities of daily living are affected. These patients require a detailed investigation.

61%-80%: crippled: Back pain impinges on all aspects of the patient's life. Positive intervention is required.

81%-100%: These patients are either bed-bound or exaggerating their symptoms.

References

1. Fairbank JC, Pynsent PB. The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine 2000 Nov 15;25(22):2940-52; discussion 52.

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