Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ): Measuring Symptoms

The Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire assesses symptoms and physical function in lumbar spinal stenosis. It helps doctors track recovery and measure patient satisfaction with treatment.

Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ) PDF assessment form for evaluating symptoms and function.
SSQ

Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ)

The Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ) is a trusted tool for evaluating lumbar spinal stenosis. It measures symptom severity, physical function, and patient satisfaction with care. By tracking these outcomes, clinicians can better understand treatment impact and adjust plans for relief.

Category

Physical health
Mobility
Movement System

Disease

Assessment
Quality of Life
Clinical Care
Rehabilitation

Source

(Marchand et al., 2019)

Author Name

Stucki, G. et al. (1995)

What is Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ)

The Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ) is a trusted tool for assessing lumbar spinal stenosis. It tracks symptom severity plus physical function clearly. Often called the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, this measure focuses on back and leg pain history. It looks at how these specific issues stop people from walking easily. The scale splits into three main parts covering severity, physical function, and satisfaction. Patients answer questions about pain levels, numbness, and balance using simple options to rate how much the condition bothers them in daily life. Clinicians use the SSQ to check progress after surgery or conservative care. It is self-administered and quick to finish, so it fits well in busy clinics needing reliable data. It helps track recovery over time and guides future treatment choices for better patient outcomes in the long run.

SSQ Scoring

The Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire can be scored using three distinct subscales to track specific patient outcomes: 1. Symptom Severity: This domain covers seven items scored 1 to 5. You simply calculate the unweighted mean, where higher scores suggest more intense pain or discomfort. 2. Physical Function: Here, five items are scored 1 to 4 regarding walking ability and daily tasks. Average the answers to get a score where higher numbers point to poorer function. 3. Satisfaction: For post-op checks, six items scored 1 to 4 assess outcome satisfaction. An unweighted mean is used, with lower scores showing better results for the patient.

View scoring form

Advantages

Outcome tracking

Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.

Reliable data

Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.

Treatment planning

Develops personalised strategies based on assessment data.

Research validity

Strengthens evidence through systematic measurement approaches.

10
Minutes
20
Questions

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