Widespread Pain Index (WPI) for a Patient with 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.