Oswestry Disability Index

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a standardized questionnaire used to measure how much lower back pain affects a person’s ability to perform daily activities. It consists of ten sections covering areas like pain intensity, walking, sitting, standing, and personal care. Healthcare professionals use it to assess functional disability, monitor rehabilitation progress, and guide treatment planning.

Each section of the ODI is scored from 0 to 5, and the total score is converted into a percentage to determine the level of disability. A score of 0–20% indicates minimal disability, 21–40% moderate, 41–60% severe, 61–80% crippling, and 81–100% complete or bed-bound disability. The higher the percentage, the greater the impact of back pain on the patient’s daily life.

To calculate the ODI, add up the points for all ten sections, divide by the total possible score (usually 50), then multiply by 100 to get a percentage. For example, a total score of 16 would be calculated as (16 ÷ 50) × 100 = 32%. This percentage represents the patient’s overall disability level due to lower back pain.