Rheumatology
The WOMAC® is a widely used patient questionnaire to measure the impact of hip or knee osteoarthritis. It explores three complementary dimensions: pain, stiffness, and physical function. Several response formats exist — Likert, visual analogue scale, or numerical rating scale — and they must not be mixed within the same follow-up.
Number of questions
24 items
Approximate duration
5 to 10 minutes
Population
hip or knee osteoarthritis, depending on the version and usage
Modality
patient self-assessment questionnaire
Terms of contract
Self-administered questionnaire completed by the patient for the studied joint (hip or knee), over the reference period defined by the version, for example the last 48 hours for version LK3.0. Only one answer per question. Keep the same format (Likert, VAS, or NRS) and the same licensed version throughout follow-up.
Score interpretationWOMAC®
For a 0–4 Likert version, the subscores are: pain 0–20, stiffness 0–8, function 0–68, total 0–96. A higher score indicates more symptoms or limitations; the NRS/VAS versions have different ranges.
Total score
First reading
No universal category: analyze the subdomains and the change from the baseline level.
Do not arbitrarily convert a Likert WOMAC to an NRS WOMAC. During follow-up, analyze the subdomains and the change from baseline rather than a universal category.
Frequently asked questions
What is the WOMAC® used for?
Are there multiple versions?
What are its limitations?
Sources and references
Nicholas Bellamy / WOMAC®
Bellamy N et al., J Rheumatol, 1988
In practice
Full name
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index
Method
patient self-assessment questionnaire
Language
French (validated version)
Authors
Nicholas Bellamy / WOMAC®
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