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DASH
(Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand)
Focus:
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire focuses on evaluating how upper limb disorders affect a patient’s ability to perform routine daily activities. It is specifically designed to assess functional impairment and symptoms in individuals with musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity, making it a valuable tool across both surgical and non-surgical care settings.
The DASH is a validated and widely adopted patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that quantifies the degree of disability and symptoms in the upper limb. It plays a crucial role in monitoring treatment effectiveness and functional recovery for a wide range of upper extremity conditions—from fractures and nerve injuries to tendonitis and rotator cuff disorders.
Relevant Survey:
- Body Part: Upper Extremity (Arm, Shoulder, and Hand)
- Area Of Focus: Upper Limb Pain and Disability, Orthopedic and Neuromuscular Conditions, Post-Surgical Recovery
The DASH is used across orthopedic, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation settings to assess how upper limb problems affect daily function. It supports evidence-based clinical decisions, tracks recovery progress, and enables personalized care by directly capturing the patient’s self-reported experiences.
Description:
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a focused PROM designed to evaluate physical function and symptoms in individuals with upper extremity conditions. The tool measures difficulty in performing everyday tasks such as opening jars, writing, lifting, and participating in social or recreational activities. The DASH is especially useful in pre- and post-intervention settings, helping clinicians monitor symptom resolution and functional gains over time. Optional modules allow for deeper insights into work-related and sports/arts-specific limitations.
Use Cases:
- Primary Use: Assesses the severity of disability and functional impairment in the arm, shoulder, and hand.
- Target Conditions: Carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff injury, tennis elbow, fractures, arthritis, and post-operative recovery.
- Post-Surgery Assessment: Tracks functional improvements and symptom relief following surgical interventions of the upper limb.
- Other Applicable Patients: Ideal for patients in occupational or physical therapy for chronic upper limb conditions or injury rehabilitation.
Number Of Questions:
5 Core Domains + 2 Optional Modules
See an example of the DASH in the SolvEdge platform by watching the video below:
Click here to view the questionnaire.
Questionnaire Survey Consists of:
The DASH has 30 core questions divided in 5 sub-scales and 2 optional modules each containing 4 items:
Core Domains:
- Physical function (21 Questions)
- Symptoms (pain, tingling, weakness, stiffness) (5 Questions)
- Social function (2 Questions)
- Sleep (1 Question)
- Self-confidence in performing tasks (1 Question)
Optional Modules:
- Work Module (4 Questions)
Sports/Performing Arts Module (4 Questions)
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