The Low Back Pain Scales and Scores

Oswestry Score
This questionnaire is the J. Fairbanks QA from the journal Physiotherapy 1980; 66: 271, and comes with a second page, with a pain drawing. Please note that the scoring methodology is the same as for the NDI.

Roland Morris
The Roland-Morris instrument was developed as an abbreviated SIP (sickness index profile) and is specific for low back pain, like the Revised Oswestry Disability Index. This questionnaire of 24 items can be administered in five minutes and has been validated in randomized trials of spinal manipulation. It was shown to be at least as reliable as the full SIP in cases of acute low back pain. It was found to be slightly more responsive to changes over time than the complete SIP. Compared to the Revised Oswestry Disability Index, the Roland-Morris instrument is also slightly more responsive to changes in acute to subacute low back pain. Thanks to the Illinois Chiropractic Society for putting this Adobe PDF file on line!
     Scoring Roland Morris