Holsman Physical Therapy & Wellness P.C.
Patient Questionnaire
Holsman Physical Therapy & Wellness · 17 NJ & NYC clinics + in-home therapy
holsmanwellness.com · 1-855-465-7626
📍 724 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst, NJ 📞 1-855-465-7626 ⏰ Mon–Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM
Facebook Instagram X/Twitter
Home› Physical Therapy› Free Self-Checks› Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)

Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)

20 everyday activities for hip, knee, ankle and foot problems, scored from 0 to 80.

Your answers stay on your device. This tool runs only in your web browser. Nothing you enter is sent to us, saved or shared. Close the page and it’s gone.

The LEFS is a widely used questionnaire about how a leg problem affects daily life, from walking between rooms to running and hopping. It takes about 3 minutes.

LEFS ©1996 J. Binkley, reprinted with permission

Instructions

We are interested in knowing whether you are having any difficulty at all with the activities listed below because of your lower limb problem for which you are currently seeking attention. Please provide an answer for each activity.

Today, do you or would you have any difficulty at all with:

1. Any of your usual work, housework, or school activities.
2. Your usual hobbies, recreational or sporting activities.
3. Getting into or out of the bath.
4. Walking between rooms.
5. Putting on your shoes or socks.
6. Squatting.
7. Lifting an object, like a bag of groceries from the floor.
8. Performing light activities around your home.
9. Performing heavy activities around your home.
10. Getting into or out of a car.
11. Walking 2 blocks.
12. Walking a mile.
13. Going up or down 10 stairs (about 1 flight of stairs).
14. Standing for 1 hour.
15. Sitting for 1 hour.
16. Running on even ground.
17. Running on uneven ground.
18. Making sharp turns while running fast.
19. Hopping.
20. Rolling over in bed.

LEFS ©1996 J. Binkley, reprinted with permission

This is a questionnaire, not a diagnosis. The LEFS shows how much your leg problem affects everyday activities. It can’t tell you what is causing it or what treatment you need. Share your result with a physical or occupational therapist, your doctor or another licensed health care provider.

What the score means

Add the 20 answers for a score from 0 to 80. Higher scores mean better function; 80 means no difficulty with any activity. Percent of maximal function is the score divided by 80.

  • Measurement error: a score is within about 5 points of the true score at any one time (Binkley et al., 1999).
  • Real, meaningful change: 9 points. Both the minimal detectable change and the minimal clinically important difference are 9 scale points (Binkley et al., 1999).

Sources and permission. LEFS ©1996 J. Binkley, reprinted with permission. Used with the permission of the authors; please do not copy the form from this page. Binkley JM, Stratford PW, Lott SA, Riddle DL. The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS): scale development, measurement properties, and clinical application. Phys Ther. 1999;79(4):371-383. Holsman Physical Therapy is not affiliated with these organizations, and they do not endorse this website.

Common Questions

What is the LEFS?

The Lower Extremity Functional Scale is a 20-question form about everyday activities such as walking, stairs, squatting and getting in and out of a car. Physical therapists use it for hip, knee, ankle and foot problems to track progress.

How is it scored?

Each activity is rated from 0 (extreme difficulty or unable to perform) to 4 (no difficulty). The 20 answers are added for a score from 0 to 80. Higher is better.

How much change matters?

A change of 9 points or more is beyond measurement error and is considered clinically meaningful (Binkley et al., 1999).

Is my information saved?

No. Everything runs in your web browser. Nothing is sent to us or stored.

Leg Problem Slowing You Down?

Physical therapists at 17 locations across NJ & NYC, plus in-home visits. Same-week appointments available.

📞 Call 1-855-465-7626
Printed from holsmanwellness.com/tools/lower-extremity-functional-scale-lefs/ · Holsman Physical Therapy & Wellness · Questionnaire, not a diagnosis.