These data provide both validation and st and ards for other users and indicate the power of the instrument for detecting change in sample population s. CONCLUSIONS The  ODI  remains a valid and vigorous measure and has been a worthwhile outcome measure .
The behavior of the instrument is incompletely understood , particularly in sensitivity to real change
STUDY DESIGN The Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders .
This review is based on publications using the ODI identified from the authors ' personal data bases , the Science Citation Index , and h and search es of Spine and current textbooks of spinal disorders .
OBJECTIVES To review the versions of this instrument , document methods by which it has been vali date d , collate data from scores found in normal and back pain population s , provide curves for power calculations in studies using the ODI , and maintain the ODI as a gold st and ard outcome measure .
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA It has now been 20 years since its original publication .
More than 200 citations exist in the Science Citation Index .
Return to work following an aquafitness and muscle strengthening program for the low back injured.
Our purpose , in this prospect i ve clinical study , was to identify the best predictors of 2-month return to work or retraining for a group of low back injured subjects ( n = 40 ) who completed at least 8 weeks of a community-based rehabilitation program that combined aerobic and flexibility exercise conducted in the water ( aquafitness ) with muscle strength and endurance training .  Baseline demographic characteristics and changes in physical fitness , pain , disability , and psychological well-being during the course of program participation were compared between two groups of low back injured subjects : those who returned to work ( RTW ) [ n = 24 ] , and those who did not ( N-RTW ) [ n = 16 ] . Subjects in both groups showed comparable improvement in measures of physical fitness at 8 weeks . However , multivariate analyses showed significant between-group differences in self-report measures . The RTW group showed significant improvement in measures of pain , disability , anxiety , and vigor while self-esteem and affect remained stable . The N-RTW group displayed no change in pain and disability variables and had significant deterioration in mean overall psychological well-being over time . The best predictors of return to work using logistic regression analyses were a first injury rather than a repeat injury to the lower back , and stability in self-esteem . Suggestions are offered for further research to examine the benefits of aquafit exercise for the low back injured , for additional interventions for those with a reinjury , and for maintaining or enhancing self-esteem as a treatment goal
These data provide both validation and st and ards for other users and indicate the power of the instrument for detecting change in sample population s. CONCLUSIONS The  ODI  remains a valid and vigorous measure and has been a worthwhile outcome measure .
The behavior of the instrument is incompletely understood , particularly in sensitivity to real change
STUDY DESIGN The Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders .
This review is based on publications using the ODI identified from the authors ' personal data bases , the Science Citation Index , and h and search es of Spine and current textbooks of spinal disorders .
OBJECTIVES To review the versions of this instrument , document methods by which it has been vali date d , collate data from scores found in normal and back pain population s , provide curves for power calculations in studies using the ODI , and maintain the ODI as a gold st and ard outcome measure .
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA It has now been 20 years since its original publication .
More than 200 citations exist in the Science Citation Index .