Outcomes assessment in musculoskeletal medicine

SUMMARY. Outcomes management is important for quality assurance purposes. Issues of reliability and validity are central to determining appropriate outcomes tools. Outcomes can be used to measure progress in three critical areas of patient management: pain relief, physical capacity (impairment), and disability. Outcomes can be obtained inexpensively and in a time-efficient manner. This article reviews the most valuable outcomes tools for a small, private practice and how they can be implemented into patient care. Copyright 1997 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.