The Widespread Pain Index (WPI) can be used to evaluate a patient for fibromyalgia.
Components: 19 (7 bilateral, 5 regional)
Bilteral items (left and right scored separately):
(1) shoulder girdle
(2) upper arm
(3) lower arm
(4) buttock and hip
(5) upper leg
(6) lower leg
(7) jaw (TMJ)
Regional:
(1) neck
(2) upper back
(3) lower back
(4) chest
(5) abdomen
WPI =
= SUM(sites with pain over the past week)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 19
• The higher the score the more widespread the pain.
• A modification would be to grade the pain at each site.
Limitations:
• Some items (jaw, lower back and abdomen) have a long list of alternative explanations for pain.
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Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic