Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)

Authors
Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Scoring instructions

The columns on the scale are summed to get a total score. The maximum score is 80.

Interpretation of scores

  • The lower the score the greater the disability
  • The minimal detectable change is 9 scale points.
  • The minimal clinically important difference is 9 scale points.
  • % of maximal function = (LEFS score) / 80 * 100

Psychometrics

  • The potential error at a given point in time was +/- 5.3 scale points.
  • Test-retest reliability was 0.94.
  • Construct reliability was determined by comparison with the SF-36. The scale was found to be reliable with a sensitivity to change superior to the SF-36.

Form

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:

Activities Extreme difficulty or unable to perform activity Quite a bit of difficulty Moderate difficulty A little bit of difficulty No difficulty
  1. Any of your usual work, housework or school activities.
  1. Your usual hobbies, recreational or sporting activities.
  1. Getting into or out of the bath.
  1. Walking between rooms.
  1. Putting on your shoes or socks.
  1. Squatting.
  1. Lifting an object, like a bag of groceries from the floor.
  1. Performing light activities around your home.
  1. Performing heavy activities around your home.
  1. Getting into or out of a car.
  1. Walking 2 blocks.
  1. Walking a mile.
  1. Going up or down 10 stairs (about 1 flight of stairs).
  1. Standing for 1 hour.
  1. Sitting for 1 hour.
  1. Running on even ground.
  1. Running on uneven ground.
  1. Making sharp turns while running fast.
  1. Hopping.
  1. Rolling over in bed.
Item 1: Any of your usual work, housework or school activities. Not tested
Item 2: Your usual hobbies, recreational or sporting activities. Not tested
Item 3: Getting into or out of the bath. Not tested
Item 4: Walking between rooms. Not tested
Item 5: Putting on your shoes or socks. Not tested
Item 6: Squatting. Not tested
Item 7: Lifting an object, like a bag of groceries from the floor. Not tested
Item 8: Performing light activities around your home. Not tested
Item 9: Performing heavy activities around your home. Not tested
Item 10: Getting into or out of a car. Not tested
Item 11: Walking 2 blocks. Not tested
Item 12: Walking a mile. Not tested
Item 13: Going up or down 10 stairs (about 1 flight of stairs). Not tested
Item 14: Standing for 1 hour. Not tested
Item 15: Sitting for 1 hour. Not tested
Item 16: Running on even ground. Not tested
Item 17: Running on uneven ground. Not tested
Item 18: Making sharp turns while running fast. Not tested
Item 19: Hopping. Not tested
Item 20: Rolling over in bed. Not tested
Total: 0

Citation

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