Oswestry Disability Index

Oswestry Disability Index

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a widely used questionnaire designed to assess the degree of disability and functional impairment in individuals with low back pain. It is considered a gold standard for measuring the impact of low back pain on a person's ability to manage everyday life.

History

The Oswestry Disability Index was first developed in the early 1980s by Jeremy Fairbank and colleagues at the Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital in the United Kingdom. The original purpose was to create a reliable and valid measure of disability for patients with spinal disorders.

Structure

The ODI consists of ten sections, each containing six statements. Each section addresses a different aspect of daily life that may be affected by back pain. The sections include:

1. Pain Intensity 2. Personal Care 3. Lifting 4. Walking 5. Sitting 6. Standing 7. Sleeping 8. Sex Life 9. Social Life 10. Traveling

Each section is scored on a scale from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater disability.

Scoring

The total score is calculated by summing the scores of each section and then converting the sum into a percentage. The percentage score is interpreted as follows:

- 0% to 20%: Minimal disability - 21% to 40%: Moderate disability - 41% to 60%: Severe disability - 61% to 80%: Crippling disability - 81% to 100%: Bed-bound or exaggerating symptoms

Applications

The Oswestry Disability Index is used in both clinical and research settings. Clinicians use it to assess the baseline level of disability in patients with low back pain and to monitor changes over time. Researchers use the ODI to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and interventions for back pain.

Limitations

While the ODI is a valuable tool, it has some limitations. It may not fully capture the complexity of a patient's experience with back pain, and cultural differences can affect how questions are interpreted. Additionally, the focus on physical disability may overlook psychological and social factors that contribute to a patient's overall well-being.

See Also

- Low back pain - Functional assessment - Quality of life