PT Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Clinical Practice Exam

Which scoring system is used to assess function of the upper extremity?

DASH SPADI IKDC ASES

Correct Answer:

DASH

Explanation:

The main idea is using a general patient-reported outcome that captures overall function of the entire upper limb, not just a single joint. DASH stands for Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand. It’s a widely used questionnaire that covers daily activities, symptoms, and the impact on social or work function across the shoulder to the hand. It yields a 0–100 score, where a higher score means more disability and worse function. Because it assesses the whole upper extremity, it’s the best choice when the goal is to gauge overall upper-limb function across diverse conditions. The other instruments are more joint-specific: SPADI focuses on shoulder pain and function, while IKDC is knee-oriented, and ASES is also a shoulder-focused outcome.

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