Analysis

The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI) was designed to assess the degree of disability caused by low back pain. It is one of the most widely used tools for evaluating the functional limitations of patients with lower back pain.

Objective

The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide a reliable and valid measurement of the disability caused by low back pain. The information collected can be used to assess the severity of the condition, monitor patient progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Scoring

The ODI includes 10 questions, each assessing different aspects of daily life affected by low back pain, such as personal care, walking, sitting, sleeping, social life, and work. Each question has six response options, scored from 0 to 5, ranging from “no difficulty” to “maximum difficulty.”
Total scores are calculated by summing the responses to each question and expressing the result as a percentage (%). Scores range from 0% (no disability) to 100% (maximum disability). The scores are categorized as follows:
0–20%: Minimal disability
21–40%: Moderate disability
41–60%: Severe disability
61–80%: Very severe disability
81–100%: Bed-bound or symptom exaggeration

References

Fairbank, J. C., & Pynsent, P. B. (2000). The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine, 25(22), 2940–2953. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-200011150-00017
Davidson, M., & Keating, J. L. (2002). A comparison of five low back disability questionnaires: reliability and responsiveness. Physical Therapy, 82(1), 8–24. DOI: 10.1093/ptj/82.1.8
Fritz, J. M., & Irrgang, J. J. (2001). A comparison of a modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale. Physical Therapy, 81(2), 776–788. DOI: 10.1093/ptj/81.2.776