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 .
The treatment of acute low back pain--bed rest, exercises, or ordinary activity?
BACKGROUND Bed rest and back-extension exercises are often prescribed for patients with acute low back pain , but the effectiveness of these two competing treatments remains controversial . METHODS We conducted a controlled trial among employees of the city of Helsinki , Finl and , who presented to an occupational health care center with acute , nonspecific low back pain . The patients were r and omly assigned to one of three treatments : bed rest for two days ( 67 patients ) , back-mobilizing exercises ( 52 patients ) , or the continuation of ordinary activities as tolerated ( the control group ; 67 patients ) . Outcomes and costs were assessed after 3 and 12 weeks . RESULTS After 3 and 12 weeks , the patients in the control group had better recovery than those prescribed either bed rest or exercises . There were statistically significant differences favoring the control group in the duration of pain , pain intensity , lumbar flexion , ability to work as measured subjectively , the Oswestry back-disability index , and number of days absent from work . Recovery was slowest among the patients assigned to bed rest . The overall costs of care did not differ significantly among the three groups . CONCLUSIONS Among patients with acute low back pain , continuing ordinary activities within the limits permitted by the pain leads to more rapid recovery than either bed rest or back-mobilizing exercises
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 .