Oswestry Disability Questionnaire

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 checking one box 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 It is painful to look after myself and I am slow and careful
3 I need some help but can manage most of my personal care
4 I need help every day in most aspects of self care
5 I do not get dressed, 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 me extra pain
2 Pain prevents me lifting heavy weights off the floor but I can manage if they are conveniently placed e.g. on a table
3 Pain prevents me lifting heavy weights but I can manage light to medium weights if they are conveniently positioned
4 I can only lift very light weights
5 I cannot lift or carry anything

Section 4: Walking*
0 Pain does not prevent me walking any distance
1 Pain prevents me from walking more than 2 kilometres
2 Pain prevents me from walking more than 1 kilometre
3 Pain prevents me from walking more than 500 metres
4 I can only walk using a stick or crutches
5 I am in bed most of the time

Section 5: Sitting
I can sit in any chair as long as I like
I can only sit in my favourite chair as long as I like
Pain prevents me sitting more than one hour
Pain prevents me from sitting more than 30 minutes
Pain prevents me from sitting more than 10 minutes
Pain prevents me from sitting at all

Section 6: Standing
I can stand as long as I want without extra pain
I can stand as long as I want but it gives me extra pain
Pain prevents me from standing for more than 1 hour
Pain prevents me from standing for more than 30 minutes
Pain prevents me from standing for more than 10 minutes
Pain prevents me from standing at all

Section 7: Sleeping
My sleep is never disturbed by pain
My sleep is occasionally disturbed by pain
Because of pain I have less than 6 hours sleep
Because of pain I have less than 4 hours sleep
Because of pain I have less than 2 hours sleep
Pain prevents me from sleeping at all

Section 8: Sex Life (if applicable)
My sex life is normal and causes no extra pain
My sex life is normal but causes some extra pain
My sex life is nearly normal but is very painful
My sex life is severely restricted by pain
My sex life is nearly absent because of pain
Pain prevents any sex life at all

Section 9: Social Life
My social life is normal and gives me no extra pain
My social life is normal but increases the degree of pain
Pain has no significant effect on my social life apart from
limiting my more energetic interests e.g. sport
Pain has restricted my social life and I do not go out as often
Pain has restricted my social life to my home
I have no social life because of pain

Section 10: Travelling
I can travel anywhere without pain
I can travel anywhere but it gives me extra pain
Pain is bad but I manage journeys over two hours
Pain restricts me to journeys of less than one hour
Pain restricts me to short necessary journeys under 30 minutes
Pain prevents me from travelling except to receive treatment

Score: / x 100 = %

Scoring: 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 ten 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)

Source: Fairbank JCT & Pynsent, PB (2000) The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine, 25(22):2940-2953.
Davidson M & Keating J (2001) A comparison of five low back disability questionnaires: reliability and responsiveness. Physical Therapy 2002;82:8-24.