This assessment tool is a version of a patient-reported outcome measure used to quantify disability related to lower back pain. It consists of ten sections, each addressing a different aspect of daily life affected by back pain, such as pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, social life, traveling, and changing degree of pain. Patients rate their level of difficulty on a scale, and these scores are combined to generate a total score representing the overall level of functional disability. For example, a higher score indicates greater disability.
The instrument provides standardized evaluation, facilitating consistent measurement of functional limitations across different patients and time points. This allows clinicians to track treatment progress and make informed decisions about patient management. Its development was based on the original Oswestry Disability Index, seeking to enhance its reliability and validity, leading to wider adoption for clinical and research purposes in evaluating back pain treatments and interventions. Regular use contributes to a better understanding of the impact of lower back pain on individual lives.
