Table 3.
Normalized HJHS item weights and item level scores (means)
| HJHS item | Item weight (sum to 1) | Item levels | Item‐level score (0‐100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swelling | 0.121 | Severe—very swollen, no bony landmarks are visible | 0 |
| Moderate—swollen, bony landmarks obscured to some degree | 36.8 | ||
| Mild—swelling looks slightly “puffy”; all bony landmarks are visible | 65 | ||
| No swelling | 100 | ||
| Duration of swelling | 0.057 | ≥6 months | 0 |
| No swelling or <6 months | 100 | ||
| Muscle atrophy | 0.08 | Severe—flattening of muscle belly is noted | 0 |
| Mild—mild flattening of muscle belly is noted | 60.5 | ||
| None | 100 | ||
| Crepitus of motion | 0.109 | Severe—audible and/or palpable grinding and crunching during joint motion | 0 |
| Mild—slightly audible and/or palpable grinding and crunching during joint motion | 59.9 | ||
| None | 100 | ||
| Strength | 0.13 | Trace or no muscle contraction | 0 |
| Able to partially complete range of motion against gravity | 36.2 | ||
| Holds test position with minimal resistance | 60.5 | ||
| Holds test position against gravity with moderate resistance | 79.3 | ||
| Holds test position against gravity with maximum resistance | 100 | ||
| Joint pain | 0.11 | Pain through active range | 0 |
| No pain through active range; pain only on gentle overpressure or palpation | 68.7 | ||
| No pain through active range of motion | 100 | ||
| Global gait (walking, stairs, running, hopping on 1 leg) | 0.138 | No skills are within normal limits | 0 |
| 3 skills are not within normal limits | 26.6 | ||
| 2 skills are not within normal limits | 50.6 | ||
| 1 skill is not within normal limits | 73.3 | ||
| All skills are within normal limits | 100 | ||
| Flexion loss (normal–contralateral side) | 0.115 | Loss of >20° | 0 |
| Loss of 11°‐20° | 35.2 | ||
| Loss of 5°‐10° | 71.4 | ||
| Loss of <5° | 100 | ||
| Extension loss (normal–contralateral side) | 0.139 | Loss of >20° | 0 |
| Loss of 11°‐20° | 38.3 | ||
| Loss of 5°‐10° | 72 | ||
| Loss of <5° | 100 | ||
| Total | 1.00 |
Item weights indicate how important each item is relative to other items when identifying a healthy joint (N = 41). Attributes for each item level are ranked highest (eg, healthiest) to lowest.