Aim: The evaluation of the reliability of the Oswestry disability questionnaire in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and chronic back pain

Patients and method: 104 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and low or upper back pain with during at least three months have been included in our study. The disability caused by the pain was estimated using Oswestry questionnaire and the pain intensity was estimated using VAS. The reported general condition of health had five interpretations: bad, not so good, satisfying, good, very good, graded by 0,1,2,3,4, respectively.

Results: Statistical significant correlations was found to be between disability and pain intensity in the low back pain group (r = 0.44, P < 0.0001), pain intensity in the upper back pain (r = 0.32, P < 0.01), and the reported general condition of health (r = 0.4, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The reported statistical significant correlations increase the reliability of Oswestry questionnaire, and it can be used in the evaluation of the disability due to chronic back pain in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.