When compared with the Oswestry questionnaire, the Roland was found to be simpler, faster and more acceptable to patients. It is a more sensitive measure of activity intolerances in acute and subacute patients. The Oswestry is more sensitive for identifying activity intolerances in chronic patients and therefore may be more appropriate for tertiary care facilities. The Roland form should be given at the initial patient contact and then every 2-4 weeks thereafter. It is simple to total the score and track a patient's progress over time.
Software is available which automatically charts and graphs the patient's improvement over time.
10 Conclusion Outcomes are invaluable for documenting the response of patients to our care. Such documentation is essential in medicolegal settings. Outcomes are a universal language which makes them ideal for communication with referring doctors, attorneys, adjusters or the patients themselves. They also help in clinical decision making by focusing us on issues which can influence our choice of therapy for our patients. For instance, persistent activity intolerances such as in walking can indicate the need for a biomechanical re-evaluation of the lower extremity kinetic chain.