Low Back (Oswestry)

Low back: Pain Intensity *

0 I can tolerate the pain I have without having to use painkillers 1 The pain is bad but I manage without taking painkillers 2 Painkillers give complete relief from pain 3 Painkillers give moderate relief from pain 4 Painkillers give very little relief from pain 5 Painkillers have no effect and I do not use them

Low back: Personal Care *

0 I can look after myself normally without causing extra pain 1 I can look after myself normally but it causes extra pain 2 It is painful to look after myself and I am slow and careful 3 I need some help but manage most of my personal care 4 I need help every day in most aspects of self-care 5 I do not get dressed, wash with difficulty, and stay in bed

Low back: Lifting *

0 I can lift heavy weights without extra pain 1 I can lift heavy weights but it gives extra pain 2 Pain prevents me from lifting heavy weights off the floor, but I can manage if they are conveniently positioned 3 Pain prevents me from lifting heavy weights, but I can manage light to medium weights if conveniently positioned 4 I can lift only very light weights 5 I cannot lift or carry anything at all

Low back: Walking *

0 Pain does not prevent me walking any distance 1 Pain prevents me walking more than 1 mile 2 Pain prevents me walking more than 1/2 mile 3 Pain prevents me walking more than 1/4 mile 4 I can only walk using a stick or crutches 5 I am in bed most of the time

Low back: Sitting *

0 I can sit in any chair as long as I like 1 I can only sit in my favorite chair as long as I like 2 Pain prevents me sitting more than 1 hour 3 Pain prevents me sitting more than 1/2 hour 4 Pain prevents me sitting more than 10 minutes 5 Pain prevents me sitting at all

Low back: Standing *

0 I can stand as long as I want without extra pain 1 I can stand as long as I want but it gives extra pain 2 Pain prevents me from standing for more than 1 hour 3 Pain prevents me from standing for more than 30 minutes 4 Pain prevents me from standing for more than 10 minutes 5 Pain prevents me from standing at all

Low back: Sleeping *

0 Pain does not prevent me from sleeping well 1 I can sleep well only by using tablets 2 Even when I take tablets I have less than 6 hours sleep 3 Even when I take tablets I have less than 4 hours sleep 4 Even when I take tablets I have less than 2 hours sleep 5 Pain prevents me from sleeping at all

Low back: Social Life *

0 My social life is normal and gives me no extra pain 1 My social life is normal but increases the degree of pain 2 Pain has no significant effect on my social life apart from limiting more energetic interests 3 Pain has restricted my social life and I do not go out as often 4 Pain has restricted my social life to my home 5 I have no social life because of pain

Low back: Traveling *

0 I can travel anywhere without extra pain 1 I can travel anywhere but it gives extra pain 2 Pain is bad but I manage journeys over 2 hours 3 Pain restricts me to journeys of less than 1 hour 4 Pain restricts me to short necessary journeys under 30 minutes 5 Pain prevents me from traveling except to receive treatment

Low back: Employment/Homemaking *

0 My normal homemaking/job activities do not cause pain 1 My normal homemaking/job activities increase my pain, but I can still perform all that is required of me 2 I can perform most of my homemaking/job duties, but pain prevents me from performing more physically stressful activities 3 Pain prevents me from doing anything but light duties 4 Pain prevents me from doing even light duties 5 Pain prevents me from performing any job or homemaking chores