About the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire
The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) is one of the most widely used measures of how low back pain affects everyday activities. You answer Yes or No to 24 short statements. Your total score reflects how much your back problem is limiting you at present. It is often used in primary care, physiotherapy, and research to track change over time.
Medical Specialties
Anatomic Areas
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
Developed by Professor Martin Roland and Dr Richard W Morris from items selected from the Sickness Impact Profile and first published in Spine in 1983. Professor Roland notes that the original questionnaire and authorised translations on www.rmdq.org are in the public domain.
Copyright & Licensing
The original RMDQ and versions published on www.rmdq.org are in the public domain and may be used without permission. Prefer wording from the official site or validated translations to preserve measurement properties.
Administration Instructions
When your back hurts, you may find it difficult to carry out some of your usual activities. Below are some statements about those difficulties. For each statement, answer Yes if it applies to you today, or No if it does not. If a statement does not apply to you, answer No.
Scoring Methodology
The RMDQ lists 24 statements derived from the Sickness Impact Profile, framed around back-related function. The respondent indicates whether each statement applies today. Each Yes counts as one point. The total score is the sum of endorsed items (0-24). Higher totals indicate greater perceived disability. Official guidance recommends scoring items not applicable to the patient as No so the scale remains out of 24.
Meaningful Change Threshold
Distribution-based estimates of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) are often around 2 to 5 points, but values vary by population and anchor. In primary care cohorts an MCID near 3 to 5 points is frequently cited; confirm local protocols if comparing trials.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
low
0 - 6Low disability - fewer activity limitations reported.
moderate
7 - 12Moderate disability - a noticeable impact on daily activities.
high
13 - 24High disability - marked limitation; may warrant targeted assessment and management.
Clinical Limitations & Considerations
The RMDQ measures back-related disability and is not specific for leg-dominant radicular pain in isolation. It is unidimensional and does not capture psychosocial or workplace factors. Ceiling and floor effects can occur at extremes of severity. Comparisons with the Oswestry Disability Index require caution as content and scoring differ. Self-report may be affected by mood, litigation, or social desirability.
Supporting Literature
Key validation and development studies for the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire
- 1
A study of the natural history of back pain. Part I: Development of a reliable and sensitive measure of disability in low-back pain
Roland MO, Morris RW
Spine, 1983
- 2
A minimal clinically important difference was derived for the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for low back pain
Jordan K, Dunn KM, Lewis M, Croft P
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2006
- 3
The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire
Roland M, Fairbank J
Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 2000
Related Outcome Measures
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Oswestry Disability Index
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Single-question measure of overall adherence to the agreed treatment plan
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Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS)
The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring the severity of fatigue. It includes two subscales: Physical Fatigue (Q1-5, range 5-25) and Mental Fatigue (Q6-10, range 5-25). Total score ranges from 10-50, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue.
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