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 .
A Population‐Based, Randomized Clinical Trial on Back Pain Management
Study Design . Population ‐based r and omized clinical trial . Objectives . To develop and test a model of management of subacute back pain , to prevent prolonged disability . Summary of Background Data . The present management of back pain seems inadequate , and development of innovative models has been urged . Methods . A model for the treatment of subacute work‐related back pain has been developed and evaluated in a population ‐based r and omized clinical trial . Workers ( n = 130 ) from eligible workplaces in the Sherbrooke area ( N = 31 ) , who had been absent from work for more than 4 weeks for back pain , were r and omized , based on their workplace , in one of four treatment groups : usual care , clinical intervention , occupational intervention , and full intervention ( a combination of the last two ) . The duration of absence from regular work and from any work was evaluated using survival analysis . Functional status and pain were compared at study entry and after 1 year of follow‐up . Results . The full intervention group returned to regular work 2.41 times faster than the usual care intervention group ( 95 % confidence interval 1.19‐4.89 ; P = 0.01 ) . The specific effect of the occupational intervention accounted for the most important part of this result , with a rate ratio of return to regular work of 1.91 ( 95 % confidence interval = 1.18‐3.10 ; P < 0.01 ) . Pain and disability scales demonstrated either a statistically significant reduction or a trend toward reduction in the three intervention groups , compared with the trend in the usual care intervention group . Conclusions . Close association of occupational intervention with clinical care is of primary importance in impeding progression toward chronicity of low back pain
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 .