Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale: Measuring Back Function

The Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale assesses pain levels and the ability to perform daily tasks. This self-report survey helps clinicians track changes and guide treatment for lower back issues.

Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale PDF questionnaire for assessing back pain impact
ALBPS

Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale

The Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale is a 19-item questionnaire assessing back pain and its effect on daily life. This clinical tool measures functional disability and pain distribution, helping doctors track patient progress. It’s a reliable method for monitoring health outcomes.

Category

Physical health
Movement System
Mobility
Rehabilitation

Disease

Assessment
Quality of Life
Rehabilitation
Clinical Measurement

Source

(Ruta et al., 1994)

Author Name

Ruta, D.A., Garratt, A.M., Wardlaw, D. & Russell, I.T. (1994)

Page Editor

Thijs Sondag

What is Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale

The Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale (ALBPS) is a practical tool for assessing back pain severity and its impact on daily life in clinical settings. Built with nineteen specific items, the scale examines health status by focusing on pain distribution, duration, and intensity levels experienced by the individual. It asks patients about their use of painkillers and ability to handle routine tasks like bending, lifting, or sleeping. Responses are summed to create a percentage score, where higher numbers point to greater functional disability. Being self-administered and taking just five minutes to complete, it fits easily into busy primary care clinics. Clinicians use it to track progress over time or screen for severe issues, making it simpler to decide if a patient needs specialist care or surgery down the track. It serves as a reliable method to guide future treatment choices.

ALBPS Scoring

The Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale can be scored using one main approach based on a weighted percentage system. This tool looks at 19 items covering pain and daily activities. You will assign values to patient answers, where questions have different weights based on severity. Once you tally the points, convert the total into a percentage from 0 to 100. A higher score means more severe back trouble and disability. It is a handy way for physios to track how a patient is tracking over time without needing complex maths or fancy software.

View scoring form

Advantages

Outcome tracking

Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.

Treatment planning

Develops personalised strategies based on assessment data.

Reliable data

Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.

Efficient collection

Streamlines research data gathering process.

10
Minutes
19
Questions

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