What is the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)?
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is used to measure how lumbar spine pain is affecting a patient’s overall life. It is a questionnaire for the patient that covers 10 aspects of pain and how it limits certain activities. The 10 sections are: • Pain Intensity • Personal Care • Lifting • Walking • Sitting • Standing • Sleeping • Sex Life (if applicable) • Social Life • Travelling In each section, the patient chooses which of six statements best describes them. For example, in the Pain Intensity section, the statements are: • I can tolerate the pain I have without having to use pain killers. • The pain is bad but I manage without taking pain killers. • Pain killers give complete relief from pain. • Pain killers give moderate relief from pain. • Pain killers give very little relief from pain. • Pain killers have no effect on the pain and I do not use them. Each statement has a point value assigned to it, and after the patient fills out the questionnaire, Dr. Bridwell adds up the points.
