The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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The Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey has been shown to be a valid instrument when used to measure the self-reported physical and mental health of patients. The impact of lumbar spinal disorders can be assessed as the difference between the SF-36 scale scores and age- and gender-specific population norms. ⋯ All four lumbar spine disorders have a significant negative impact on all eight of the SF-36 scales. The greatest negative impact was seen in those scales that measure physical health (role limitations due to physical symptoms [RP], physical functioning [PF], and bodily pain [BP]). The HNP diagnostic group experienced a significantly greater impact upon these three scales. This diagnostic group had the youngest patients, whose baseline physical functional status would be expected to be the most optimal. When we stratified by age in all the diagnostic groups, the greatest negative impact scores for physical health were seen in the <40 years and 40-60 years age groups. These patients were also more likely to perceive their health as poor, experience decreased energy, and have more social impairment when compared with their age/gender norms.