Update on the use of patient reported functional status and HRQOL measures in low back pain

Disease-specific functional status and generic health-related quality of life instruments used in low back pain studies are reviewed. A variety of instruments are available and many have been demonstrated to be valid and reliable. The Roland-Morris Disability Index and Oswestry Disability Index are the most commonly used low back pain-specific measures, while the Short Form-36 is the most commonly used generic quality of life tool. The Short Form-36 is valid and reliable in back pain but not necessarily intended to replace disease-specific measures. Studies have been inconsistent in their efforts to demonstrate a relationship between self-reported functioning and task performance.