Neck Pain Disability Index (Vernon-Mior) Form printable pdf download

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NDI

Neck disability index

Howard Vernon developed the neck disability index (NDI) in 1989. The NDI was developed

as a modification of the Oswestry low back pain disability index with the permission of the

original author (J. Fairbank, 1980). In 1991, Vernon and Mior published the results of a study of

reliability and validity in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics. Since then,

approximately ten articles have appeared in the indexed literature on the NDI. All of these studies

have confirmed the original reports of a high level of reliability and validity. We know that the NDI

consists of one factor – physical disability – although NDI scores correlate well with the SF-36

mental component scores as well. We know that the minimum detectable score and the minimal

clinically important difference amounts to the same figure – 5 NDI points.

The NDI has become a standard instrument for measuring self-rated disability due to neck pain

and is used by both clinicians and researchers.

Each of the 10 items scores from 0 to 5. The maximum score is 50. The obtained score can be

multiplied by two to produce a percentage score. Occasionally, a respondent will not complete one

question or another. The average of all other items is then added to the completed items.

The original report provided scoring intervals for interpretation, as follows:

0 to 4 = no disability

5 to 14 = mild

15 to 24 = moderate

25 to 34 = severe

Above 34 = complete

Please note: The means 15 – 24 out of 50 (the RAW SCORE) equates with moderate disability.

Use the NDI at baseline and for every two weeks thereafter within the treatment program to

measure progress. As noted, at least a 5-point change is required to be meaningful clinically.

Patients often do not score the items as zero, once they are in treatment. In other words, it is

common to find that patients will continue to score between 5 – 15 despite having made excellent

recovery (i.e., they may be back to work). Avoid the trap of treating until zero, as this is not

supportable based on current evidence.

When writing to the WCB please print name and claim or firm number.

Updated: 10/04/16

Neck Pain Disability Index (Vernon-Mior) Form