The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a renowned instrument used to gauge the extent of disability associated with lower back pain. This self-reported questionnaire is especially useful for evaluating the functional impairment individuals experience during their daily activities due to back pain. Here's a summary of what each section of the ODI assesses and its significance:

Pain Intensity

This section measures the impact of pain on the individual's need for pain medication. It ranges from tolerating pain without medication to finding no relief despite medication, indicating the severity of the pain's interference with daily life.

Personal Care

Personal care assessment checks how back pain affects basic self-care activities. The level of independence in personal hygiene and dressing is a vital indicator of the disability level, varying from complete independence to requiring assistance or being bed-bound.

Lifting

The ability to lift objects is evaluated, which is a common daily task that can be limited by back pain. This can range from lifting heavy weights without pain to being unable to lift anything at all.

Walking

Walking is a fundamental mobility function, and this section seeks to understand the restrictions back pain places on walking distances. This can vary from no impact on walking to being confined to bed due to pain.

Sitting

Chronic back pain can affect one's ability to sit for periods. This part of the questionnaire assesses the length of time a person can sit before pain sets in, which could range from sitting without limitation to being unable to sit at all.

Standing

Standing capacity is another critical aspect of daily function. This segment assesses for how long an individual can remain standing, from without limitation to not being able to stand whatsoever.

Sleeping

Sleep quality is crucial for overall well-being, and this section determines the extent to which back pain influences sleep, from sleeping comfortably to complete sleep disruption.

Social Life

The ability to engage in social activities reflects a person's quality of life. This part evaluates how back pain affects social interactions, from no impact to completely hindering any social engagement.

Travelling

This segment explores the effects of back pain on the ability to travel, ranging from traveling without pain to being unable to travel, excluding essential visits like those to the doctor.

Employment/Homemaking

Finally, the ability to perform work or homemaking tasks is examined. It covers a spectrum from performing usual duties without pain to being unable to undertake any work or homemaking chores.

Scoring and Interpretation

Scores from each section are totalled to provide an overall percentage, where a higher score indicates greater disability. The score is then mapped to a disability level:

0-4 points indicate "No disability"

5-14 points indicate "Mild disability"

15-24 points indicate "Moderate disability"

25-34 points indicate "Severe disability"

35-50 points indicate being "Completely disabled"

The ODI is essential for clinicians to measure the functional impact of lower back pain, facilitate treatment planning, and gauge patient progress. While highly reliable and valid, the ODI is primarily focused on physical aspects of disability and does not encompass emotional or psychological factors that may also be affected by chronic pain.