Outcomes are usually reported using digital range of motion although recent studies have also included patient-rated outcome measures with the extensively validated Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire commonly used.
Severe pain-related disability assessed via the validated Pain-Disability Index (PPDI) [ 16] as scores > =36; long pain duration of more than 6 months, high average pain intensity (greater 6 on the NRS), additional pain peaks (defined as pain intensity of 8 and above on the NRS), regular school absence of at least 5 days within the preceding four weeks.
Recently Maïano, Bégarie, Morin, and Ninot (2009) developed and validated an intellectual disability (ID) version of the very short form of the physical self-inventory (PSI-VS-ID).
We used validated measures of disability that fit with theories of aging.
Validated measures of disability require further studies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and are currently being addressed by the World Health Organisation.
Failure to have and make use of instruments for disability assessment — although disability is a major consequence of headache disorders and a range of well-validated disability instruments exists [1, 9, 12, 17, 21] — appears to be both necessary and easy to remedy.
One study used a non-validated disability index and did not report pain scores [ 65].
The WOSI was originally validated against the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) assessment and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale, with correlations of 0.77 and 0.65, respectively.
The DS scale consists of a single item that assesses MS patients' level of disability on a 7-point scale ranging from DS0 to DS6, with DS6 representing the greatest disability [ 22] [Additional file 2. It is validated against the Expanded Disability Status Scale [ 23], a widely used physician-reported measure of disability.
