Table 1.

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for lumbar spinal stenosis

Parameter	Finding	Points
Low-back pain	None	3
	Occasional mild pain	2
	Frequent mild	1
	Occasional severe pain	1
	Frequent pain	0
	Continuous pain	0
Leg pain and/or tingling	None	3
	Occasional slight symptoms	2
	Frequent slight symptoms	1
	Occasional severe symptoms	1
	Frequent severe symptoms	0
	Continuous severe symptoms	0
Gait	Normal	3
	Able to walk >500 m although it results in pain tingling and/or muscle weakness	2
	Unable to walk >500 m owing to leg pain tingling and/or muscle weakness	1
	Unable to walk >100 m owing to leg pain tingling and/or muscle weakness	0
Sensory disturbance	None	2
	Slight disturbance (not subjective)	1
	Marked disturbance	0
Motor disturbance	Normal (Grade 5)	2
	Slight weakness (Grade 4)	1
	Marked weakness (Grades 0–3)	0
Turn over while lying	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Standing	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Washing	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Leaning forward	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Sitting about 1 h	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Lifting or holding a heavy object	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Walking	No restriction	2
	Moderate restriction	1
	Severe restriction	0
Urinary bladder function	Normal	0
	Mild dysuria	−3
	Severe dysuria	−6

Total score = SUM (points for all parameters). Interpretation: minimum score, −6; maximum score, 29