1. What is the Oswestry Disability Index?

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a widely used questionnaire for measuring the degree of disability and quality of life in patients with low back pain. It assesses how back pain affects the ability to manage everyday life.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the ODI formula:

Where:

• \( Score \) — Total points from ODI questionnaire (0-50 points)
• \( 50 \) — Maximum possible score
• \( 100 \) — Conversion to percentage

Explanation: The ODI questionnaire consists of 10 sections with 6 statements each. Each section is scored from 0-5 points, with higher scores indicating greater disability.

3. Importance of ODI Calculation

Details: The ODI is crucial for assessing functional disability in patients with low back pain, monitoring treatment progress, and determining the impact of back pain on daily activities and quality of life.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total ODI score (0-50 points) obtained from the questionnaire. The score must be between 0 and 50 inclusive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the ODI percentage ranges mean?
A: 0-20% minimal disability, 21-40% moderate disability, 41-60% severe disability, 61-80% crippled, 81-100% bed-bound or exaggerating symptoms.

Q2: How is the ODI questionnaire administered?
A: Patients complete 10 sections covering pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sex life, social life, and traveling.

Q3: What is a clinically significant change in ODI?
A: A change of 10-15 percentage points is generally considered clinically significant for detecting meaningful improvement or deterioration.

Q4: Can ODI be used for all types of back pain?
A: ODI is primarily designed for mechanical low back pain and may be less appropriate for radicular pain or specific spinal pathologies.

Q5: How often should ODI be measured?
A: Typically measured at initial assessment and then at regular intervals (e.g., 4-6 weeks) during treatment to monitor progress.