Update on the use of patient reported functional status and HRQOL measures in low back pain

Abstract

Disease-specific functional status and generic health-related quality of life instruments used in low back pain studies are reviewed. A variety of instruments are available and many have been demonstrated to be valid and reliable. The Roland–Morris Disability Index and Oswestry Disability Index are the most commonly used low back pain-specific measures, while the Short Form-36 is the most commonly used generic quality of life tool. The Short Form-36 is valid and reliable in back pain but not necessarily intended to replace disease-specific measures. Studies have been inconsistent in their efforts to demonstrate a relationship between self-reported functioning and task performance.

• functional status
• low back pain
• Oswestry
• quality of life
• Roland–Morris
• SF-36