medical decision support medical decision support
Sign In

The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)

Description

The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) can be used to evaluate the functional impairment of a patient with a disorder of one or both lower extremities. It can be used to monitor the patient over time and to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention. The authors are from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.


 

The patient is asked about 20 different activities

 

Response

Points

unable to perform activity, or extreme difficulty

0

quite a bit of difficulty

1

moderate difficulty

2

a little bit of difficulty

3

no difficulty

4

 

LEFS score =

= SUM(points for all 20 activities)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 80

• The lower the score the greater the disability.

• The Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) is 9 scale points.

• The Minimal clinically Important Difference (MCID) is 9 scale points.

 

percent of maximal function =

= (LEFS score) / 80 * 100

 

Performance:

• The potential error at a given point in time was +/- 5.3 scale points.

• Test-retest reliability was 0.94.

• Construct reliability was determined by comparison with the SF-36. The scale was found to be reliable, with a sensitivity to change superior to the SF-36.

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Specialty