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 .
The Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders .
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 .
It has now been 20 years since its original publication .
Efficiency and Costs of Medical Exercise Therapy, Conventional Physiotherapy, and Self‐Exercise in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pragmatic, Randomized, Single‐Blinded, Controlled Trial With 1‐Year Follow‐Up
Study Design . A multicenter , r and omized , single‐blinded controlled trial with 1‐year follow‐up . Objectives . To evaluate the efficiency of progressively grade d medical exercise therapy , conventional physiotherapy , and self‐exercise by walking in patients with chronic low back pain . Summary and Background Data . Varieties of medical exercise therapy and conventional physiotherapy are considered to reduce symptoms , improve function , and decrease sickness absence , but this opinion is controversial . Methods . Patients with chronic low back pain or radicular pain sick‐listed for more than 8 weeks and less than 52 weeks ( Sickness Certificate II ) were included . The treatment lasted 3 months ( 36 treatments ) . Pain intensity , functional ability , patient satisfaction , return to work , number of days on sick leave , and costs were recorded . Results . Of the 208 patients included in this study , 71 were r and omly assigned to medical exercise therapy , 67 to conventional physiotherapy , and 70 to self‐exercise . Thirty‐three ( 15.8 % ) patients dropped out during the treatment period . No difference was observed between the medical exercise therapy and conventional physiotherapy groups , but both were significantly better than self‐exercise  group . Patient satisfaction was highest for medical exercise therapy . Return to work rates were equal for all 3 intervention groups at assessment 15 months after therapy was started , with 123 patients were back to work . In terms of costs for days on sick leave , the medical exercise therapy group saved 906,732 Norwegian Kroner ( NOK ) ( $ 122,531.00 ) , and the conventional physiotherapy group saved NOK 1,882,560 ( $ 254,200.00 ) , compared with the self‐exercise group . Conclusions . The efficiency of medical exercise therapy and conventional physiotherapy is shown . Leaving patients with chronic low back pain untampered poses a risk of worsening the disability , result ing in longer periods of sick leave
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 .
The Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders .
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 .
It has now been 20 years since its original publication .