The role of functional status questionnaires for low back pain

This article provides an introduction to the use of functional status questionnaires in the management of patients with low back pain (LBP). The paper highlights some problems with traditional outcome measures such as the straight leg raise and argues for the use of outcomes that are more meaningful to patients. It is recommended that physiotherapists evaluate the effect of their treatment on the health-related quality of life of a patient with LBP by assessing the patient's functional limitations and disabilities. Three questionnaires appropriate for this purpose, which are also feasible for use in the typical physiotherapy clinic, are reviewed and the use of one of the questionnaires is demonstrated in a case study.